Athletes Beyond Bartow (Special): Barnett named Royals MiLB Player of the Year by Baseball America

~~ from the Auburn University Athletics website

AUBURN, Ala. – Former Cartersville High School and Auburn University hurler Mason Barnett has been named the Kansas City Royals 2023 Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America.

In his first full season in professional ball, Barnett made 23 starts. He posted a 3.30 ERA with 137 strikeouts in 114.2 innings pitched, leading all qualified Royals minor leaguers in both ERA and strikeouts while ranking second in WHIP (1.19).

Barnett started the season with High-A Quad Cities and turned in a 3.18 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 82.0 innings before earning a promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, where he posted a 3.58 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 32.2 frames.

The right-hander went 5.0 or more innings in 17 of his 23 starts and struck out at least six batters in 15 outings, including a season-best 10 strikeouts in his second-to-last High-A start on July 25. He didn't allow more than two earned runs in five of his seven Double-A starts and earned the win in two of his last three appearances.

Selected by the Royals in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft, Barnett was a three-year member of the Auburn baseball program from 2020-22. He made 41 career appearances, including 20 starts, and struck out 142 batters in 111.1 innings. The Cartersville, Georgia, native played a key role in Auburn's run to the 2022 College World Series as he ranked second on the team in strikeouts (83), tied for second in starts (14), and third in innings pitched (63.2).