Age: 22
Born: June 17, 1990
Bethel, CT
Height: 6-4
Weight: 203
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 1st round, 2011
How Acquired: Draft
College: Connecticut
High School: Bethel (CT)
ETA: Late 2014

Photo © John Corneau/Lowell Spinners

Links
The Book: Matt Barnes (10.5.11)
2012 Prospect Preview
ESPN Boston - Barnes to debut Sunday (4.7.12)
Barnes extends scoreless streak (4.25.12)
Barnes' family shares in promotion (4.30.12)
ESPN Boston - Barnes on the move (5.29.12)
The Book: Matt Barnes (6.6.12)
The Book: Evaluating the arms (8.13.12)

Scouting Report: Tall righty with projectable body.  Easy delivery. Heavy fastball sits 93-95 mph and can top out at 98 mph.  Ability to reach for velocity and grab extra when he needs it. Shows excellent downward finish in lower tier of strike zone, but tends to flatten out when elevated. Ball comes out of his hand fluidly.  Works fastball to both sides of the plate. Solid-average fastball command. Also throws a 74-77 mph curveball with tight rotation and deep break. Feels offering well to create hard snap. Can hold onto ball too long when throwing curve and also wrap wrist to lose ability to stay on top of it.  Grades as an average pitch, with plus potential.  Needs to finish more centered with body for consistent command of offering and crispness  Average command. Future swing and miss out-pitch at the major league level with more polish and consistency. 85-87 mph changeup presently grades as fringe-average-to-average. Shows arm-side fade, but needs to create more deception and consistency when throwing it.  Arm speed varies at times from fastball. Potential to become a solid-average-to-better offering and induce weak contact.  Strong pitchability with stuff. Repeatable and loose mechanics. Downhill thrower who generates easy velocity. Can get off balance during delivery, which affects release point and command.  Lands too far towards first base with front foot in stretches.  Likely to re-incorporate slider into repertoire or develop cutter when closer to the big leagues.  Second or third starter projection on a first division team.