Why Scott Barlow Isn't Emerging As A Potential Bullpen Solution

To say the Royals are burdened by one of the worst bullpens in the majors grossly understates the obvious. The club’s troubled relief corps too often fails the eye test, and its numbers tell a dreadful tale — through Tuesday, when closer Alex Lange’s blown save at Detroit became the Royals’ 20th of the season, KC’s 7.19 ninth-inning ERA was the worst in the majors, and the pen’s 5.25 overall ERA was the big leagues' second-worst. No bullpen’s WHIP was as poor as the Royals’ 1.55.

Help is desperately needed, and has been since closer Carlos Estévez went on the Injured List before the campaign was even a week old. General manager J.J. Picollo has signed hopeful solutions to minor league deals, and Tuesday brought up Easton McGee, who he recently obtained from Milwaukee.

And then there’s Scott Barlow, who for two full seasons excelled as the Royals’ closer, saving 16 games with a 2.24 ERA in 2021 and then 24 with a 2.18 ERA the very next year. Kansas City gave him a minor league contract after the Athletics released him in late June.

Unfortunately, Barlow doesn’t seem to be the, or even an, answer.  

Scott Barlow Has Been Underwhelming Since Returning To The Royals

Despite its bad bullpen situation, Kansas City chose not to add nine-season major league veteran Barlow to the big league bullpen as soon as he rejoined the organization. Instead, and after posting an ugly 6.48 ERA in 33.1 innings spread across 36 appearances for the A’s, the club assigned him to Triple-A Omaha.

His July 3 debut with the Storm Chasers, a team he’d last pitched for in 2019, didn’t go well. After tossing a scoreless sixth inning against Indianapolis, he allowed the Indians to double their lead by giving up two solo homers before leaving with two outs in the seventh (the Chasers lost 6-0).

Barlow rebounded with a scoreless inning against Louisville four days later, but in three games and three innings since then (through Tuesday) has been touched for three runs, five hits (including another homer), walked three, and struck out two.

Barlow entered Wednesday’s action with a 7.24 ERA and 2.12 WHIP. Opponents were batting .292 against him, and his K% and BB% were both 17.2 (5 apiece). The sample size is small, but the results are still discouraging.

Whether there’s still hope for Barlow, who in 237 games since leaving the Royals via a trade deadline deal with San Diego in 2023 is 11-8 with a 4.45 ERA and five saves in eight tries, remains to be seen. But so far, and considering his disappointing performances in the majors and minors this season, his prospects of making it back to Kauffman Stadium before the campaign ends don’t seem bright. And don’t look for the Royals to bring him back in 2027.

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