SONOMA, Calif.– The Sonoma Stompers announced the signing of pitcher Nick Barnese. The former 3rd round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays will be entering his ninth season of professional baseball.
“Nick will add leadership and depth to our pitching staff,” said General Manager Brett Creamer. “We know with his talent and experience he will compete at a high level for us.”
The Simi Valley native spent six years in the Tampa Bay Rays organization where he started 93 games and had a won loss record of 31-23 in 478.1 innings pitched with 409 strikeouts and ERA of 3.37. Barnese spent the 2011 and 2012 season with Double-A Montgomery Biscuits of the Rays organization where he held a 9-9 record in 174 innings pitched and ERA of 4.40.
Barnese entered the Independent Baseball world in 2014 when he played for the well known St. Paul Saints of the American Association. The righty led the pitching staff with 98 strikeouts and was second in innings pitched with 121.2. Barnese tied the team lead in wins with six while holding a 3.85 ERA.
In 2018, for the Pittsburg Diamonds of the Pacific Association, Barnese excelled as a reliever for the first time in his career with a 2-3 record with a 4.67 ERA and six saves.