New experience:
So, you’re a young pitcher in your first big-league camp. How should you conduct yourself?
“You have your ears open; you have your eyes open,” said Counsell. “One of the great lessons is consistency of preparation for a majorleague player. It’s always a place where you learn.”
Which is exactly the way
Jacob Barnes looks at his first time in a big-league camp. The 25-year-old right-hander boosted his stock in the Brewers’ system last year, was added to the 40-man roster and thus got his first invite to their spring camp.
“It’s been great, being around all the guys,” said Barnes, a 14th-round draft pick out of Florida Gulf Coast University in 2011. “It’s a great experience. You learn from the older guys. Even though it’s a younger team, there are still veteran guys here.
“Seeing how they go about their jobs and all the drills, you try to learn from them. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Barnes was converted from starting to relief early in the 2015 season at Class AA Biloxi and prospered, finishing with a 3.36 ERA over 39 outings (3.09 in 33 relief appearances). He allowed 74 hits and 30 walks over 75 innings while logging 84 strikeouts.
It was his next assignment in the Arizona Fall League where Barnes really took charge, turning in eight scoreless relief outings. In 112⁄ innings, he allowed only six hits while striking out 17 hitters and holding opponents to a .154 batting average.
“It was a good year for me, making the transition from starter to reliever,” he said. “I had been a reliever in college, but I had to get my arm used to it again. It’s different than starting every five days. Toward the end of the season, I got into a rhythm and it kept clicking in the Fall League.
“They haven’t told me exactly, but I’d assume I’m a reliever now. That’s fine with me . . . I accepted some of the changes we made with my pitches. The biggest thing is the mentality of coming in there and getting those outs right away and being more aggressive.”
When meeting with the pitching first-timers at the outset of camp, Counsell said he imparted this message to them: “Treat it like you’re getting ready for your season and be ready to help this club at some point during the season. That’s how I laid it out to them.”