Yhonathan Barrios

Yhonathan Barrios Blanco
also listed as Jonathan Barrios

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 200 lb.

• Debut September 24, 2015
• Final Game October 4, 2015
• Born December 1, 1991 in Cartagena, Bolívar Colombia

BR page

Biographical Information

Colombian shortstop-turned-pitcher Yhonathan Barrios trained in a baseball academy owned by Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera. He signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates for $250,000 in 2008. Barrios debuted for the VSL Pirates on May 18, 2009, and went 0 for 2 against the VSL Mariners. He was only 1 for 19 after 10 games as a pro but ended up hitting a decent .241 in 54 games. He did not play in 2010 and, in 2011, moved to the DSL Pirates where he hit .299 in 25 games. He moved to the United States with the State College Spikes of the New York-Penn League in 2012, but hit only .196/.255/.217 in 44 games while playing mainly second base and third base. He started 2013 still in the NY-Penn League, this time with the Jamestown Jammers, where he went 4 for 28 in 11 games. At that point, the Pirates decided to convert him to pitcher.

He went down a level to take his first steps off a mound with the GCL Pirates starting in late July 2013 and showed some serious promise, with an ERA of 0.82 in 11 innings. In 2014, he started the year with the West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League, where he was 2-6, 4.70 with 4 saves in 26 games and finished with the Bradenton Marauders of the Florida State League (0-1, 2.25). In 41 games and 58 1/3 innings, he gave up 63 hits and struck out 50 while walking 23. In 2015, he moved up another level, beginning the season with the Altoona Curve of the Eastern League. After going 0-1, 1.46 with 10 saves in 20 games, he continued his ascent, reaching Triple A with the Indianapolis Indians in mid-June. He was 1-2, 4.60 in 13 games when, on July 23, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in return for veteran third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Following the deal, he went 3-2 with 6 saves and a 3.15 ERA in 16 games for the Biloxi Shuckers, back in Double A.

Barrios made his MLB debut on September 24, 2015, relieving Cesar Jimenez in the 8th with one out and a 7-3 deficit against the St. Louis Cardinals. He allowed singles to Tony Cruz and Matt Adams but Cruz was out for interference when he was hit by Adams' grounder. Barrios then fanned Matt Carpenter for his last batter of the day. He began 2016 on the injured list with a shoulder injury, which sidelined him into 2017. Following the '17 season, he became a free agent.

Related Sites

• Yhonathan Barrios on mlb.com
• BR Minors page