Jaime Jonathan Barría Soto (born July 18, 1996) is a Panamanian professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...
for the
Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the
Mexican League. He has previously played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB) for the
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...
, and in the
KBO League
The KBO League () is a professional baseball league in South Korea. The league comprises ten teams. The KBO League was founded with six franchises in 1982 and is the most popular sports league in South Korea. The Kia Tigers are the most success ...
for the
Hanwha Eagles. Barría signed with the Angels as an international
free agent in 2013.
Professional career
Los Angeles Angels
Minor leagues (2013–2018)
Barría signed with the
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...
for $60,000 as an international
free agent in 2013. He made his debut that same year with the
Dominican Summer Angels of the
Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, pitching in five innings and giving up six earned runs. He returned there in 2014 where he improved, going 4–4 with a 3.03
earned run average (ERA) in 16 games (eight starts). In 2015 he played for both the
Arizona Angels of the Rookie-level
Arizona League and the
Orem Owlz of the Advanced Rookie-level
Pioneer League, pitching to a combined 5–4 record and 4.02 ERA in 15 games (14 starts). He pitched in 2016 for the
Burlington Bees of the
Single–A Midwest League and was named the Angels' Pitching
Prospect of the Year by MLBPipeline.com after he compiled an 8–6 record and 3.85 ERA with a 1.32 WHIP in 25 starts.
Barría began the 2017 season with the
Inland Empire 66ers of the
High–A California League. The Angels promoted him to the
Mobile BayBears of the
Double–A Southern League on June 4, and to the
Salt Lake Bees of the
Triple–A Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...
for his final three starts of the year.
In 26 starts between the three clubs, he went 7–9 with a 2.80 ERA. He was selected to appear in the
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game hosted by Major League Baseball (MLB) in conjunction with the mid-summer MLB All-Star Game. A team of American League-affiliated prospects competes against a team of National League- ...
. The Angels added Barría to their 40-man roster after the season.
Barría began the 2018 season with Salt Lake.
Major leagues (2018–2023)
After he made one start for the Bees in 2018, the Angels promoted Barría to the major leagues on April 11, 2018, to make his debut against the
Texas Rangers.
[
On April 22, 2018, Barria faced ]Brandon Belt
Brandon Kyle Belt (born April 20, 1988), nicknamed "Baby Giraffe", "Sparky", and "Captain", is an American professional baseball first baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Gian ...
of the San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
who had an at bat
In baseball, an at bat (AB) or time at bat is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher. An at bat is different from a plate appearance. A batter is credited with a plate appearance regardless of what happens upon completion of his turn at bat, ...
that lasted 21 pitches before ending with a fly out to right field, breaking the MLB record for most pitches to a single batter in a single at bat. On the season, Barría started 26 games for the Angels, going 10–9 with a 3.53 ERA with 98 strikeouts in innings. He was the fifth-youngest player in the AL. In 2020, he went 1–0 in 7 games (5 starts).
On January 13, 2023, Barría signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract with the Angels, avoiding salary arbitration. In 34 appearances for the Angels, he struggled to a 2–6 record and 5.68 ERA with 62 strikeouts in innings of work. Following the season on October 16, Barría was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Salt Lake. He subsequently rejected the assignment and elected free agency.
Cleveland Guardians
On December 1, 2023, Barría signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. Since , the team has played its home gam ...
. In 13 games for the Triple–A Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy Merchant ship, merch ...
, Barría compiled a 4.81 ERA with 27 strikeouts across innings pitched.
Hanwha Eagles
On May 28, 2024, Barría's contract was sold to the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League
The KBO League () is a professional baseball league in South Korea. The league comprises ten teams. The KBO League was founded with six franchises in 1982 and is the most popular sports league in South Korea. The Kia Tigers are the most success ...
. In 19 starts for Hanwha, Barría posted a 6–7 record with a 5.15 ERA and 83 strikeouts over innings pitched. On November 30, the Eagles non–tendered Barría, making him a free agent.
Algodoneros de Unión Laguna
On April 15, 2025, Barria signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barria, Jaime
1996 births
Living people
Arizona League Angels players
Baseball players from Panama City
Burlington Bees players
Columbus Clippers players
Dominican Summer Angels players
Inland Empire 66ers players
Los Angeles Angels players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Major League Baseball players from Panama
21st-century Panamanian sportsmen
Mobile BayBears players
Orem Owlz players
Panamanian expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic
Panamanian expatriate baseball players in the United States
Salt Lake Bees players
Tigres del Licey players
2023 World Baseball Classic players