Article: Small Optioned, Luke Barker to Milwaukee

[TL Schwerz]

On Monday the Milwaukee Brewers selected Ethan Small, a top pitching prospect, to make his Major League debut. The hope is that he would’ve filled in for the recently injured Freddy Peralta or Brandon Woodruff. Instead, he was shaky and optioned after his start, in favor of right-handed pitcher Luke Barker.

Luke Barker is a 30-year-old right-handed reliever. He entered the Milwaukee Brewers system as an undrafted signee at 25-years-old. Barker made it to Triple-A in 2019 but was set back by a 2020 season in which Covid canceled the minor leagues. He spent all of 2021 at Triple-A and posted a sparkling 2.35 ERA with an 11.3 K/9.

Headed back to Nashville starting off 2022, Barker continued his dominance in relief. Working 19 innings thus far this season, Barker posted a 3.79 ERA with a 9.0 K/9. He’s given up more walks this season, but cut down on the homers. If something has burned him it’s been the additional baserunners having allowed a few more hits.

Barker will have appeared in 190 minor league games prior to making his Major League debut. It could be a short stint as Milwaukee continues to look for answers in the rotation with both Peralta and Woodruff shelved at the moment. Making room for Barker to be added onto the 40-man roster, Milwaukee transferred Justin Topa to the 60 day injured list.

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[patrickgpe]

I don’t think he was that bad. He still has control issues to work on. He needs to get better after the 1st time though and the hitters get a 2nd look. He’s 25, not sure what the brewers are waiting for. Also i have no idea who will be the 5th starter. Not sure why they can’t / won’t let Small take his lumps. 

[patrickgpe]

I don’t think he was that bad. He still has control issues to work on. He needs to get better after the 1st time though and the hitters get a 2nd look. He’s 25, not sure what the brewers are waiting for. Also i have no idea who will be the 5th starter. Not sure why they can’t / won’t let Small take his lumps. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Important read. Hear professional baseball players and manager Craig Counsell speak (quote above article) to Small’s stuff and today’s outing. Step ONE in the next phase of his evolution as a professional pitcher. Lots to look forward to my friends. Once he fine tunes his breaking ball, a work in progress, look out. He had A bad inning. It happens. On to the next.

[Joseph Zarr]

Important read. Hear professional baseball players and manager Craig Counsell speak (quote above article) to Small’s stuff and today’s outing. Step ONE in the next phase of his evolution as a professional pitcher. Lots to look forward to my friends. Once he fine tunes his breaking ball, a work in progress, look out. He had A bad inning. It happens. On to the next.