A former Los Angeles Dodgers prospect was released by the Kansas City Royals after his ninth year in the MLB.
Right-handed pitcher Scott Barlow was released by the Kansas City Royals organization on Thursday, according to the MiLB transactions log. Barlow was pitching for the Omaha Storm Chasers in Triple-A but was released.
The Dodgers selected Barlow in the sixth round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of high school and opted to sign with Los Angeles instead of going to Fresno State. Barlow was with the Dodgers until after the 2017 season, when he elected free agency.
Barlow signed with the Kansas City Royals and was with Kansas City through the 2022 season, and inked a deal with the San Diego Padres. He’s also pitched for the Cleveland Guardians, Cincinnati Reds, and the Athletics.
The right-hander was released by the A’s on June 24 and signed a minor-league deal with the Royals on July 1, but has now been released.
Barlow has pitched in nine MLB seasons, going 31-24 with a 3.79 ERA in 476 games, including 1 start, and is 61-for-for 79 in saves. Whether or not Barlow will sign on with another team before the end of the year is up is uncertain. But the veteran right-hander would add some depth to a bullpen.
In Triple-A with Omaha this season, Barlow was 0-0 with a 5.65 ERA in 11 games.
Dodgers Pitching Staff Getting Healthy
Los Angeles, meanwhile, is starting to get healthy ahead of the stretch run and into the playoffs.
Tyler Glasnow is getting closer to a return while Shohei Ohtani could also pitch a couple of innings here and there down the stretch. Roki Sasaki, meanwhile, has impressed in the rotation and could deserve a spot going forward.
“He’s been great for us,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Roki is not a finished product, but he’s gotten considerably better from last year. Since the break, you look at the numbers, he’s been outstanding. Tonight, I thought the fastball was good, the split was good and he didn’t run from altitude. It was a little bit of a grind – he got the pitch count up [99, 73 strikes]. But getting through that fifth inning kind of put us in a much better spot with the ‘pen.”
With the Dodgers getting healthier, Los Angeles is gearing up to go on another deep playoff run.
Los Angeles Bullpen an Issue
Although the rotation is getting healthier, the Dodgers bullpen is an issue.
Los Angeles’ closer Edwin Diaz has been horrible this year and was placed on the IL. The hope is that getting away from the field can help him, as he knows he’s working on his confidence.
“That’s going to help with my confidence, 100 percent,” Díaz confirmed to The Athletic on Sunday. “They keep trusting me. If it was in another position, maybe they put another guy, or give me a break. But they keep trusting me and give me the ball.”
Diaz is 2-2 with an 11.85 ERA in 16 games and is 7-for-11 in saves.
Los Angeles is 77-51 and atop the NL West.
Former Dodgers Prospect Released by Royals After 9-Year MLB Stint