Mason Barnett: A's 2025 Season in Review - A Promising Pitcher's First Steps
It's time to dive into the performance of one of the organization's most promising pitching prospects and his inaugural taste of the big leagues. Right-handed starter Mason Barnett, a player with significant potential, could become a key asset for a future Athletics playoff team. We finally saw him don the A's uniform this past season, and now the question is: can he secure a permanent spot on the pitching staff, either as a starter or in a relief role?
How He Arrived
Barnett's journey began when he was drafted in the 3rd round by the Kansas City Royals in 2022. After spending just two and a half seasons in their system, a mid-season trade between the Royals and the A's reshaped his path. The A's traded right-handed setup man Lucas Erceg to Kansas City, acquiring a package of three prospects. Barnett, who was then considered a top-10 prospect in the Royals' system, headlined this deal.
Expectations Entering the Season
Upon joining the A's, Barnett quickly elevated his game at Midland, which prompted the team to start him in Triple-A last year, just one step away from the big leagues. Ranked as the team's #4 prospect at the start of the year, expectations were high that he would soon be pitching for the Athletics. The team's focus on pitching was beginning to yield results, and Barnett was hoped to be the first of many reinforcements.
2025 Results: A Rocky Start
Unfortunately, Barnett's first experience in Triple-A wasn't an encouraging sign of his development. Despite a solid performance in Double-A to end the '24 season, the 24-year-old struggled in Las Vegas. His first 9 starts were particularly challenging, with a concerning 7.20 ERA by mid-May, allowing at least one run in each start. While he improved slightly in June, he still had difficulty keeping runs off the board. The team even used an opener strategy to help Barnett, but nothing seemed to work. He bounced back a bit in June but then posted a 5.33 ERA in July, followed by an even worse 9.00 ERA in August. The prize of the Erceg trade was not looking ready for the big leagues.
The Call-Up to the Majors
Despite his struggles, the A's promoted Barnett to the big leagues. His contract was selected on August 26th, and he made his debut a few days later as a starting pitcher against the Texas Rangers. Given his Triple-A struggles, it wasn't surprising that he faced challenges against tougher competition. He allowed five runs in his debut, but the Athletics kept him in the rotation for the remainder of the season. He made five more starts in September, allowing 12 earned runs over 18 innings across four starts.
2026 Outlook: What's Next?
Barnett will be present when spring training begins. The starting rotation currently has three confirmed spots: Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, and Jacob Lopez. Top prospect right-hander Luis Morales impressed down the stretch and is expected to compete for one of the remaining spots. The other starting options on the 40-man roster are right-handers JT Ginn and Jack Perkins. Both were starters in the minors but saw some bullpen action last year. Perkins, in particular, looked comfortable in the bullpen, which could make him an option there rather than in the starting rotation.
Barnett will be 25 at the start of the season and has primarily been a starting pitcher throughout his career. The A's are unlikely to move him to the bullpen quickly, so he has a chance to make the team, and potentially the starting rotation. He will need to show more in the upcoming spring training, but he has the tools to succeed in the big leagues. The A's hope he can put it all together and help solidify the backend of the starting rotation.
What are your thoughts on Barnett's performance? Do you think he'll secure a spot in the starting rotation, or will he find a role in the bullpen? Share your opinions in the comments below!
