Jake Barrett has always been a baseball star in Arizona. From his time at Mesa Desert Ridge High School, where he led Jaguars to the 2009 5A Division II State Baseball title, to his three seasons at Arizona State University where he finished the 2012 season with a 1.62 ERA. Barrett will have a chance to continue this career in Arizona, as he was selected in the third round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
As a high school senior, Barrett was named the 2009 Arizona State Player of the Year and was named first team All-State in both 2008 and 2009. Barrett went 9-3 with 99 strikeouts on the mound in 2009, while also hitting 19 home runs and driving in 65 runs.
Barrett was drafted in the third round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. Many were surprised that the hard throwing right-hander did not sign with Toronto and instead chose to attend Arizona State University.
As a freshman for the Sun Devils, Barrett was mostly used in the 8th inning as a setup man for closer Jordan Swagerty. Barrett mande 28 relief appearances, compiling a 2-0 record with an ERA of 3.41.
As a sohomore in 2011, Barrett was put into the weekend rotation by head coach Tim Esmay. Barrett started 14 games, going 7-4 with an ERA of 4.14. Barrett struck out 72 batters in 76 innigs pitched.
This past season, Barrett posted a career best 1.62 ERA with 11 saves, in the closer role for the 2012 Sun Devils.
Barrett is a fast track college arm that could be with the major league club shortly. He has a fastball that reaches the mid-90's and has nasty off-speed pitches. Valley baseball fans could be seeing Jake Barrett in the Diamondback bullpen very soon.