SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Former Auburn right-handed pitcher Mason Barnett has been called up to the Athletics and will join the club for the remainder of their series against the Detroit Tigers.
Barnett becomes the 63rd player in program history to make it to the big leagues, including the 12th former Tiger to get called up since the beginning of the 2020 season, good for the third most in the Southeastern Conference during the span. He also becomes head coach Butch Thompson’s 25th former pitcher to make it to the big leagues, including the 19th since 2014.
A three-year member of the Auburn program from 2020-22, Barnett posted a 4.69 career ERA in 41 appearances, including 20 starts. He earned five wins, three of which came during the team’s run to the 2022 College World Series, and recorded one save while contributing to four shutouts. The Cartersville, Georgia, native struck out 142 batters in 111.1 career innings.
A third-round selection of Kansas City in 2022, Barnett has pitched in 78 games in his minor league career, including 72 starts, and has posted a 4.44 ERA with 434 strikeouts in 374.2 innings pitched. The No. 11 prospect for the Athletics according to MLB Pipeline, Barnett was named a 2023 MiLB.com Organizational All-Star for the Royals before being traded to the Athletics prior to the 2024 trade deadline.
Barnett and the Athletics take on the Tigers and fellow former Auburn pitcher Casey Mize in game two of a three-game series Tuesday at 5 p.m. CT in Sacramento.