Seattle Mariners Add Longtime Milwaukee Brewers Prospect Luke Barker on Minor League Deal
Relief pitcher Luke Barker has reportedly joined the Seattle Mariners' organization in Triple-A as he continues to battle back from Tommy John surgery.
The Seattle Mariners have signed right-handed pitcher Luke Barker, MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Monday.
Barker will report to Triple-A Tacoma, per Morosi.
The 32-year-old reliever had previously spent his entire professional career in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization, appearing at six different levels for the franchise. Shortly after Barker made his MLB debut in 2022, though, he underwent Tommy John surgery and has not pitched in a game since.
Barker went undrafted out of Chico State in 2015, despite boasting a 2.24 ERA and 0.953 WHIP in college. He spent a year playing in the Frontier League, ultimately catching the Brewers' eye after putting up a 1.44 ERA and 0.802 WHIP in 62.1 innings of work.
From 2017 to 2022, Barker slowly worked his way up through the ranks, establishing himself as a reliable reliever at every level. In his minor league career, the righty is 21-16 with a 2.38 ERA, 0.953 WHIP, 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings and 50 saves.
Barker made his big league debut in 2022, tossing 2.0 scoreless and hitless innings against the San Diego Padres on June 3. His next two appearances weren't quite as clean, as he gave up five earned runs, seven hits and two home runs in 2.0 innings.
Shortly after he was optioned back to Triple-A, Barker was diagnosed with a sprained UCL. He got designated for assignment and released that August, just before he underwent Tommy John surgery.
Barker missed all of 2023 as a result of the elbow procedure, spending the entire year as a free agent.
Now, Barker has landed in a new organization for the first time in nearly eight years. The Mariners currently have six relievers on the injured list, so Barker could earn a spot in their bullpen if he shows he is back to full strength soon.
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