Danny Barnes

Daniel Jonathan Barnes (born October 21, 1989) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who is currently strategy coach for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for 3 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays.

High school and college Barnes attended Manhasset Secondary School in Manhasset, New York, where he earned four varsity letters. As a senior, he posted an 8–1 win–loss record, 0.80 earned run average (ERA), and 103 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched.

After graduation, he attended Princeton University, and played three seasons for the Princeton Tigers while majoring in economics. In 2008, Barnes made 12 appearances, four of which were starts, and posted a 2–4 record, 4.58 ERA, and 37 strikeouts in 37 innings. He spent the entire 2011 season in Lansing, making 44 appearances and posting a 5–1 record, 2.32 ERA, 99 strikeouts, and 13 saves in a career-high 66 innings pitched.

In 2014, Barnes made 36 appearances for Dunedin, and posted a 0–5 win–loss record, 4.19 ERA, 49 strikeouts, and 7 saves in innings. He made his MLB debut that night, holding a 2–1 lead with a scoreless inning of relief against the Houston Astros that included strikeouts of Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa. Barnes was optioned back to Buffalo on August 9, and recalled by the Blue Jays on September 1. He appeared in 12 games for the Blue Jays in 2016, recording a 3.95 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 13 innings. On October 8, Barnes was added to the Blue Jays' American League Division Series roster after Francisco Liriano suffered a concussion.

On May 23, 2017, Barnes earned his first major league win after pitching 1 scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in a game the Blue Jays won 4–3. On July 25, he was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right shoulder impingement. Prior to his injury, Barnes appeared in 37 games for the Blue Jays, pitching to a 3.09 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 43 innings. Barnes was activated from the disabled list on August 4. He would go on to appear in 23 more games for the Blue Jays in 2017, finishing the season with a 3.55 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 66 innings. On December 6, Barnes was voted the Blue Jays' Rookie of the Year for 2017 by the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

On June 11, 2018, in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Barnes reached both 100 major league games played and 100 career strikeouts. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list with left knee tendinitis on June 22, and was activated on August 1. Barnes appeared in 47 games for the Blue Jays in 2018, and finished the season with a 5.71 ERA. and was sent outright to Buffalo after clearing waivers on February 5.

Baltimore Orioles On March 9, 2020, Barnes signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles, but was not invited to Major League Spring Training. Barnes did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He became a free agent on November 2.

Long Island Ducks On June 29, 2021, Barnes signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Barnes registered a 2.76 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 16 appearances for the Ducks in 2021. He became a free agent following the season.

Coaching career On February 18, 2022, Barnes was hired to the New York Mets major league coaching staff as an assistant coach.

Personal life Barnes' parents, Edward and Maria, attended Columbia University and Barnard College respectively, and are both doctors. He has an older brother, Christopher, and three younger sisters named Anastasia, Kiki, and Katie.