Barnes served the organization as both a starter and reliever in 2015. In 43 innings at the major league level, Barnes permitted 56 hits, 28 runs and nine homers (nearly two per nine innings). Being yanked between roles didn’t help, and Barnes admitted difficulty in transitioning from a career starter to first-time reliever — he didn’t know when to throw his secondary stuff and never got to work on those pitches like a starter would do between starts. He would often fall behind hitters, who were waiting on his fastball. A midseason return to Triple-A Pawtucket as a starter proved to be beneficial. He got to work on pitches and improve his fastball command. When he returned to Boston as a reliever in September, Barnes allowed just one run in 10.1 innings. The plan for him in 2016 is to pitch solely as a reliever, and he’s got the power arm that will play in the bullpen, possibly as a late-inning reliever.

Barnes had a late start to the season after a sore shoulder cropped up in spring training. Once he got on the field for Triple-A Pawtucket, it looked like the shoulder was still an issue as Triple-A hitters easily handled him. Barnes wasn't commanding his pitches consistently, particularly his average secondary stuff, limiting the effectiveness of his plus fastball. It came together for him in the second half when he walked fewer batters and elicited more swings-and-misses. Despite the late start to the season, Barnes bumped up his innings count. It was also promising to see his fastball velocity increase toward the end of the season. He earned himself a September callup to Boston and worked out of the bullpen during the final month of the season. The Red Sox still consider him a starter with a three-pitch mix, so don't expect Barnes to receive consideration for a place in the Boston bullpen on Opening Day. A return to Triple-A is likely for Barnes, who will continue to work on the secondary stuff (curveball and changeup) while developing the mix needed to get through orders multiple times. With Brandon Workman moving to the bullpen full-time and the trades of Allan Webster and Rubby De La Rosa, Barnes moves to the top of the list of depth starters for Boston.

Barnes opened the 2013 season at Double-A Portland following a dominant stretch at both levels of A-ball in 2012. The move up turned out to be a stern test for Barnes, whose pitch efficiency suffered against advanced hitters. His BB/9 rate increased from 2.2 to 3.8 between the two levels and he averaged just 4.5 innings per start. The 6-foot-4 righty was hurt by big innings and an inconsistent ability to throw his secondary stuff for strikes. He finished out his season with a promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket, where his one start was a successful one. The key for Barnes entering 2014 is throwing his secondary offerings for strikes. He commands his low-to-mid 90s fastball well, but neither the changeup nor curveball are considered above average at this point.

Barnes quickly became Boston's top pitching prospect in 2012, moving through the Low-A South Atlantic League in just one month before being promoted to High-A Salem. As we have seen before with top pitching prospects, they can get by with a good heater in Low-A, but the need to establish secondary offerings, like a changeup and curveball, is the key to continue their ascent. After his promotion, he was definitely challenged more by the advanced hitters. Barnes logged 119.2 innings in his first professional season, and the organization will build off that. Continued work on the secondary pitches is Barnes' main objective entering 2013, which will likely start at High-A.

Barnes was taken in the first-round of the pitching-rich 2011 draft with the 19th overall pick by the Red Sox. As a college pitcher at the University of Connecticut, the Red Sox had ample opportunity to scout him. Because he signed close to the deadline, Barnes didn't make his professional debut last year, so he might be a smidge behind some of his contemporaries. But he's also polished enough to advance pretty quickly through the lower levels of the minors. He frequently works in the 93-95 mph range with his fastball and he throws four pitches (fastball, change, curveball, slider) regularly.