Left-handed starting pitcher has joined the Cincinnati Reds. He played in Korea’s premier professional baseball league, the KBO, in 2025. Triple-A Louisville is Barnes’ new home.
After being selected by the Minnesota Twins in the fourth round of the 2017 draft out of Clemson, Barnes advanced through the ranks of the Minnesota organization and made it to the major leagues in 2021. That year, he appeared in nine of their games and recorded a 5.92 ERA in 38.0 innings pitched, walking 16 batters and striking out 20. He was set for assignment after the season but never showed up. The Twins then outrighted him to Triple-A.
After being released five weeks later, he accepted a contract to pitch for Lotte in the KBO, where he did so from 2022 until the beginning of 2025. From 2022 to 2024, he pitched successfully, making 86 starts overall with ERAs of 3.62, 3.28, and 3.35 in each season. In 2025, though, he struggled and had a 5.32 ERA through eight starts. He was discharged because he was coping with a shoulder ailment.
Charlie Barnes, now healthy, agreed to a minor league contract with the Reds. Due to several injuries across the system, the team lacks depth in the minor leagues. This season, Louisville has used 15 pitchers as starts, excluding Wade Miley, who was technically not on a rehab assignment, and any pitchers who were in rehabilitation.
Barnes may be a multi-inning reliever who can provide the Bats with the innings they need, but we are unsure if he will be in the bullpen or rotation. Additionally, being a lefty, he might challenge for a position in the major league bullpen in the closing days if he continues to throw well and has reliable stuff.
