JOE BARLOW NEWS

Starting 2025 in Triple-A The Rangers assigned Barlow to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.

Impact Barlow signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers in February, but he wasn't able to crack the Opening Day roster after finishing spring training after allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five across 5.2 innings. He last saw major-league action in 2023 with the Rangers, and he could be called up by Texas should there be a need of right-handed depth out of the bullpen.

MARCH 26 • ROTOWIRE

Back with Texas Barlow agreed to a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Sunday that includes an invite to big-league camp.

Impact The right-hander recorded 24 saves with a 2.81 ERA across the 2021 and 2022 campaigns for the Rangers, but he had a 4.66 ERA in 13 outings during 2023 before being designated for assignment and hasn't returned to the majors. Barlow could earned a spot in Texas' bullpen with a strong showing during spring training but likely won't fill more than a middle-relief role.

FEBRUARY 16 • ROTOWIRE

Let go by ChiSox The White Sox released Barlow on Friday.

Impact Barlow returned from a shoulder injury June 5, and he has since allowed 13 earned runs in just 10.2 innings at Triple-A Charlotte. He still owns a 3.05 ERA through 73.2 career major-league innings, so he should be able to find work with another franchise, although his next opportunity will most likely come in the form of a minor-league contract.

JULY 13, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Activated from Triple-A IL Barlow (shoulder) was activated from the 60-day injured list at Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Impact Barlow suffered a right shoulder injury back in February after signing a minor-league contract with the White Sox. He made two rehab appearances with Single-A Winston-Salem and is now ready to join Charlotte's roster. If healthy, the 28-year-old should push to be added to the White Sox' roster.

JUNE 5, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Clears waivers The Royals outrighted Barlow to Triple-A Omaha on Sunday after he cleared waivers.

Impact After being claimed off waivers from the Rangers on Aug. 4, Barlow pitched exclusively with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate in Omaha. He proceeded to give up 16 runs (13 earned) on 26 hits and six walks over 12.2 innings with Omaha before the Royals determined he was no longer worthy of a 40-man roster spot. After going unclaimed off waivers, Barlow will stick around in the Royals organization and will look to right the ship at Omaha.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pushed off 40-man roster Barlow was designated for assignment by the Royals on Friday.

Impact Barlow has been lit up for 16 runs -- 13 earned -- in 12.2 innings of relief at the Triple-A level since the Royals claimed him off waivers from the Rangers in early August. The 27-year-old is off the 40-man roster and back in DFA limbo.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Claimed by Kansas City Kansas City claimed Barlow off waivers from the Rangers on Friday and optioned him to Triple-A Omaha.

Impact Barlow was designated for assignment last weekend after the Rangers acquired Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton from the Cardinals. The 27-year-old reliever showed a lot of early promise with Texas in 2021-2022, but he has logged just 9.2 major-league innings this season and was sporting an underwhelming 4.21 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 25:10 K:BB across 25.2 innings for Triple-A Round Rock.

AUGUST 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

DFA'd by Texas Barlow was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Sunday.

Impact The right-hander was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock in early July and has now lost his place on the Rangers' 40-man roster. Barlow tallied 13 saves for Texas last season but had a 4.66 ERA this year before being demoted, and he wasn't particularly impressive at Triple-A with a 4.21 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 20 outings.

JULY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Loses roster spot Barlow was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Barlow has been used some at closer by the Rangers the previous two seasons, but he hasn't found success this year with a 4.66 ERA in 13 relief appearances. He'll head to Round Rock and try to earn another shot.

JULY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Reinstated off injured list Texas reinstated Barlow (illness) off the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Impact Barlow missed just over the minimum 15-day stint on the injured list while dealing with kidney stones. The right-hander should return to a mid-to-late inning role in the Texas bullpen now that he's healthy. Owen White was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock in the corresponding move.

JUNE 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Initiates rehab assignment Barlow (illness) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday and struck out one over a perfect inning of relief in an appearance against Salt Lake.

Impact Barlow is first able return from the 15-day injured list early next week and looks as though he could be in line for activation near his eligibility date if he can turn in another strong rehab appearance or two. The right-hander was shelved in late May after he was diagnosed with kidney stones, but he's apparently made a swift recovery.

JUNE 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Joe Barlow Working Way Back From Injury Texas Rangers reliever Joe Barlow threw a batting practice session before Saturday’s game with the Seattle Mariners.

JUNE 5, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Joe Barlow Working Way Back From Injury Texas Rangers reliever Joe Barlow threw a batting practice session before Saturday’s game with the Seattle Mariners.

JUNE 5, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM

Placed on IL with illness Barlow was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to May 29, with an illness.

Impact There is no further information from the Rangers, but Barlow will be out for at least the next two weeks. He has allowed two earned runs on four hits and one walk in 3.1 innings of relief this season at the MLB level.

MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

How adjustments got Barlow back to bigs This story was excerpted from Kennedi Landry’s Rangers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it reg...

MAY 24, 2023 • MLB.COM

Makes season debut Barlow pitched a scoreless third of an inning in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to Atlanta.

Impact Barlow was called up this week and made his season debut Wednesday. He was Texas' closer for stretches in 2021 and 2022, notching 24 saves, but was held back this spring in Arizona due to a velocity drop before joining Triple-A Round Rock. He went 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA over 11 relief appearances for the Express, and manager Bruce Bochy said he's comfortable using Barlow in high-leverage situations. That indicates Barlow could be thrown into the setup mix, which has not performed well of late, including Wednesday when Josh Sborz and Brock Burke combined to blow a 5-3 lead in the eighth and ninth innings.

MAY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from Triple-A The Rangers recalled Barlow from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.

Impact Barlow has been solid in 11 minor-league appearances this year, posting a 2.63 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 15 strikeouts through 13.2 innings. His strong 2023 campaign combined with his historically strong MLB resume could warrant him a few high-leverage outings with the Rangers. Cody Bradford was optioned to Round Rock in a corresponding move.

MAY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Barlow was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Barlow has recorded double-digit saves in both of his MLB campaigns to date and owns a career 2.81 ERA, so the decision comes as something of a surprise. His ERA estimators, including a 4.73 xFIP and a 4.21 SIERA, tell a much different story about his performance, but he's cruised to a 2.16 ERA this spring while striking out 13 batters in 8.1 innings. He'll presumably still get the chance to make an impact at the highest level this season, but he's clearly fallen down the pecking order.

MARCH 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Adds new pitch Barlow (wrist) is working on adding a split-finger fastball, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Impact The pitch isn't totally new, as Barlow toyed with it in 2018, when the Rangers had former closer Bryan Harvey in camp to teach the pitch to some of the team's young hurlers. Barlow only threw about five back then, but the right-hander's picking it up again to give him a pitch that moves arm side. It's still a work in progress, which will be deployed this spring with a fastball, slider and curveball repertoire. That Barlow is throwing means he's over the November surgery to correct Linburg-Comstock syndrome, a condition that prevents the thumb and index finger from working independently.

FEBRUARY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rangers Spring Training Preview: Joe Barlow One of several Rangers with saves last season, Joe Barlow heads to Surprise out to show he should be the primary closer.

JANUARY 10, 2023 • SACBEE.COM

Undergoes wrist surgery Barlow underwent surgery Friday to separate a pair of fused tendons in his right wrist and is expected to be ready for the start of spring training in February, Evan Grant of The D...

Impact Barlow dealt with blister issues throughout 2022, and the wrist procedure is expected to help curtain those problems. The right-hander served as Texas' closer during the first half of the season and converted 13 of 17 save opportunities, but he landed on the injured list in July shortly after being demoted from the role. He finished the season with a 3.86 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 28:13 K:BB across 35 innings.

NOVEMBER 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rangers 40-Man Roster Wraps: Joe Barlow Joe Barlow started the season as the closer for the Texas Rangers, but a blister derailed his second half.

OCTOBER 15, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Activated from injured list Barlow (finger) was activated from the 15-day injured list Friday.

Impact Barlow recorded two strikeouts during his lone rehab appearance in Triple-A Round Rock. He hasn't made a big-league appearance since Aug. 17, which came over a month after his next most-recent appearance on July 12. Brett Martin was placed on the bereavement list to free up a spot on the roster for Barlow.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Positive results in rehab Barlow (finger) retired the side in order, striking out two for Triple-A Round Rock last Saturday, the Rangers' official site reports.

Impact Barlow's first rehab appearance was a promising one, as he struck out the first two batters faced and retired the side on 14 pitches. He's expected to make another appearance for the Express on Tuesday or Wednesday.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Begins rehab assignment Barlow (finger) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.

Impact Barlow has missed most of the last two months due to a blister on his finger, but he resumed mound work in early September and will return to game action in the minors Saturday. It's not yet clear how many rehab appearances he'll require before rejoining the big-league club.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE