Barrett's callup his 1st since '15: 'I'm not a quitter'

WASHINGTON -- “I said it all along, when I make it back, it’s going to be a hell of a comeback story.”

It’s a phrase Aaron Barrett repeated often throughout this four-year journey, perhaps in part to convince himself that one day it would all be worth it. The hours spent rehabbing from Tommy John surgery in 2015, the surgery to remove bone spurs in his left ankle later that year, and the surgery to repair a broken humerus in July 2016 -- a procedure which required 16 screws to be put into what he now calls his “bionic arm” -- all needed to be leading toward something.

At one point, Barrett doubted that he’d be able to throw a ball again. He often wondered: "Why me?" There were moments where he felt like he was in a dark place mentally. But he kept going.

"I'm not a quitter," he said. "Never have been and I found it in myself to keep pushing forward."

So Barrett got through the pain even when it felt unbearable. He pitched alongside teenagers in Class A Short-Season. Barrett left an impression on Washington's coaching staff during Spring Training and then spent the season proving himself at Double-A Harrisburg. All for this moment.

The Nationals promoted Barrett, 31, to the big leagues prior to Wednesday’s series finale against the Mets, making his way back to the Majors for the first time since 2015. Austen Williams was transferred to the 60-day IL to create room on the roster.

“I try to picture back when I first got called up in '14, making the team out of camp, kind of what that experience was compared to this,” Barrett said Wednesday morning. “I honestly think this one might be better than the first one.”

Barrett received the news the day prior and it caught him off guard. He had considered perhaps he might receive a call on Sunday, the first day rosters expanded. Once it passed, however, Barrett shifted his focus to pitching for Harrisburg in the postseason, and perhaps he would receive the call after. But on Tuesday, he and the rest of the Senators gathered on the field for a meeting where Harrisburg manager Matt LeCroy delivered the news to an emotional Barrett and his teammates, who pounced on him in celebration.

“Well-deserved,” Nats manager Dave Martinez said. “He’s here because he pitched to be here. He pitched really well, and man, what an unbelievable person, unbelievable guy, competitor. I’m very proud of what he’s gone through, and what an amazing turnaround for him. But he earned the right to be here because of what he’s done on the mound.”

Upon hearing the news, Barrett immediately called his wife, Kendyl, who has spent the past few years acting also as his nurse. Kendyl, their daughter Kollyns, Barrett’s parents, grandparents and brother all made it to D.C. and were expected to be at Nationals Park for Wednesday’s game. Barrett became emotional Wednesday morning when he talked about the support they provided for him throughout the process.

Barrett fought back tears as he recounted the conversation where he told Kendyl, “We’re going back.”

“It's been a pretty crazy four years,” he said. “And just know what I've put in to get back and all the people that have supported me throughout the years through this road, just to kind of realizing that it's actually -- it's happening. It's happening and it just hits you all at once.”

Barrett could barely walk through the clubhouse Wednesday without being stopped by one of his Nationals teammates, who welcomed him with large hugs and hard slaps on the back.

Barrett’s locker now sits next to Jonny Venters, whom he looked to as an inspiration after Venters worked his way back from “3 1/2” Tommy John surgeries to pitch in the Majors again in 2018. His new locker sits just a few stalls down from his previous locker in the clubhouse, back when he appeared to be breaking in as a promising young reliever for the Nationals after posting a 3.47 ERA from 2014-15. Only a few Nats players (Ryan Zimmerman, Max Scherzer, Anthony Rendon, Stephen Strasburg and Trea Turner) are still around since the last time he was on the big league roster, back in August 2015.

“It’s crazy,” Rendon said. “I know a lot of people would have given up by now. I probably would have given up by now. So I think that’s a testament to who he is as a person, his character and how much he loves this game.”

Now that Barrett is back, perhaps the rest is icing on the cake. But this was no callup based on pure generosity; Barrett has actually been pitching well with Double-A Harrisburg. In 50 games, he posted a 2.75 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 16 walks in 52 1/3 innings. His 31 saves were the most in the Eastern League and second most in all of Minor League Baseball.

Martinez said Wednesday morning that Barrett will get a chance to pitch at some point down the stretch for Washington and told him to be ready. That shouldn’t be an issue for Barrett.

“I only pitched two innings at the most down there, but if they need me to go five, I'll go five,” Barrett said with a laugh. “I have a bionic arm now, so we're good. Honestly, I'm here to help this team win in any way possible. Doesn't matter. I know we've got plenty of amazing guys here. So whatever role that is, it really doesn't matter. I'll be ready.”