Bethel Native Barnes Drafted by Red Sox

SECAUCUS, N.J. – Bethel native Matt Barnes was selected 19th overall by the Boston Red Sox in this year’s Major League Baseball draft Monday evening.

He was the second player out of the University of Connecticut taken in the first round, joining teammate George Springer, who was selected No. 11 by the Houston Astros.

Barnes was not immediately available for comment. No first round draftees attended the actual draft, which took place at MLB Studios.

At Bethel High School he was an all-state selection and a Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-Star. Barnes, a junior right-handed pitcher, throws mid 90s and has control with his curve and change up.

“He should have excellent command in the future and his frame might allow him to add some bulk along the way,” his official Major League Baseball scouting report says. “He looks and acts like a frontline starter, and that’s exactly what he might be down the line.”

Barnes, 20, played for Wareham in the Cape Cod League the last two years and played for Team USA’s collegiate squad last summer.

This season at UConn he is 11-4 with a 1.62 ERA. Last year he was a First Team All-Big East selection. UConn beat Clemson Monday in the Regional Championship of the College World Series and advanced to the Super Regional where they will face South Carolina.

“We obviously scouted him through the summer and this year, and see him as a guy with three pitches, a middle of the rotation guy," Red Sox director of amateur scouting Amiel Sawdaye said on the team’s website. "Three plus pitches. We spent a lot of time scouting him in the Cape, with Team USA. We were excited to get him. Given the fact that he was at 19, we got really excited. I'll leave it at that."