2017 Toronto Blue Jays Season Review: Danny Barnes

Right-hander Danny Barnes emerged as a reliable reliever for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017. Photo Credit: Jay Blue

By Emily @JaysGirlEmily

Blue Jays from Away

Now that the season is over, the crew at Blue Jays from Away will take a look at the Blue Jays one by one and review how each player’s season went, whether he met expectations (or not) and look at how he fits into (what we think of) the Blue Jays’ plans going forward.

Danny Barnes impressed during his second season in the majors. He spent April going back and forth (and back and forth) between Toronto and the Buffalo Bisons. He made four appearances in that month, totaling 4 2/3 innings, without allowing any runs.

His first runs allowed of the season were on May 8, but both scored after he had left the game. Barnes picked up his first career loss on May 16, after allowing the first home run of his career against the Braves. He also picked up his first win on May 23. In May, he allowed a total of six runs over 16 2/3 innings, with three of those being home runs.  May was his best month strikeout-wise, as he tallied 23. There was only one outing in which he didn’t strike out a batter – another time, he had five in one game.

In June, he threw 13 2/3 innings with four runs allowed, but had a streak of ten scoreless outings between the June 3 and June 28. He allowed five runs over 8 2/3 innings in July, but three of those runs came in the same outing, when he allowed a three-run home run in Boston. He allowed another home run in his next outing, without getting any outs.

July was his worst month ERA-wise (pitching to a 5.19 mark), but August was not much better. After spending 10 days on the disabled list with a right shoulder impingement, he returned and allowed seven earned runs in 13 innings, for a monthly ERA of 4.85. However, three of those runs again came in one outing, when he allowed a two-run homer on August 28 (the third run scored after he left the game).

In September, Barnes bounced back, despite giving up a run in each of three consecutive outings, he went the rest of the month without another run allowed. His year-end totals included a 3.55 ERA in 66 innings pitched over 60 appearances. He walked 24 and struck out 62, giving him a K/BB rate of 2.58. Compared to 2016, his opponents hit .200 against him, an improvement from .275. His WHIP this year was 1.09, 30 points lower than last year. His strikeouts per nine innings dropped from 9.22 to 8.45, but his walks per nine remained nearly the same at 3.27, compared to 3.29.

Barnes established a knack for stranding inherited runners – of 37 runners he inherited all year, only five (14%) would come in to score. One of the most reliable bullpen arms, he pitched multi-inning outings 24 times, and entered with the game tied or with a lead 39 times, compared to 21 times with a deficit.

Contract Status

Barnes is pre-arbitration eligible. He still has one option year left, and is under team control until 2023.

Regular Season Grades

Jay Blue: A

Emily: A

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