WEST SACRAMENTO -- The swagger with which Mason Barnett walked off the mound with after his strikeout of Bobby Witt Jr. to end the third inning on Friday was unlike any demeanor the usually stoic left-hander had previously demonstrated in his previous first four Major League starts.
It’s easy to understand why Barnett, rated the A’s No. 9 prospect by MLB Pipeline, was pitching with a bit of an edge. He was facing the Royals -- the club that drafted him in 2022 and traded him as a prospect to the Athletics last season -- for the first time in his career. On an even more personal level, the 24-year-old right-hander matched up opposite Royals left-hander Noah Cameron.
Having both risen through Kansas City’s farm system together, Barnett and Cameron became close friends as teammates at multiple Minor League stops, forming a bond that remains to this day. The two texted back and forth throughout Friday morning and even embraced in the outfield at Sutter Health Park with a pregame hug.
“He’s probably one of my best friends,” Cameron said of Barnett. “He was a year after me in the Draft, but we clicked right away. … We hung out every day, golfed together. It’s a good, lifelong friendship.”
Once first pitch came around, however, it was time to lock in.
Barnett and Cameron went to battle, swapping zeros early on. In the end, Barnett got the better of his comrade, setting the A’s up for a 4-3 victory on a walk-off double by Shea Langeliers by limiting the Royals to three runs on three hits and two walks across 5 2/3 innings.
“Early on, I was pretty amped up just because it was my last [start] and it was against the Royals,” Barnett said. “I played with [Cameron] all through my pro career, so that was really cool for me and him.”
Barnett’s revenge game plot hit a snag in the fourth on a three-run homer surrendered to Jonathan India, but the 24-year-old southpaw recovered nicely shortly after by not allowing a hit the rest of the way as he retired his final six batters faced.
“I was really impressed with Mason,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “He showed up with a presence tonight and competed really well. Three-run homers are huge momentum-changers, but he went back out and continued to grind. … Nice way to finish off the season.”
One out away from his first career quality start, Barnett was pulled with two outs in the sixth at 97 pitches with Salvador Perez coming to the plate. As he took the ball, Kotsay held Barnett at the mound for a longer conversation than usual.
“I wanted to make sure he understood the decision,” Kotsay said. “Salvy’s really good against righties with a lot more power. … For me, it’s important in that situation for a young starter who has had that type of game to give him a chance to walk off that mound feeling great going into next season.”
The A’s likely would not have called up Barnett when they did on Aug. 30 based on his 6.13 ERA at Triple-A Las Vegas. But injuries to Jacob Lopez and Jack Perkins created openings in the starting rotation, leading to his first call to the Majors.
There were more ups and downs for Barnett. He did flash an upper-90s power fastball and good-moving sweeper, which generated four of his 10 whiffs on Friday night, but finished with a 6.85 ERA in five starts. Still, this Major League experience is one both he and the A’s believe he will be better for come Spring Training.
“You come in and want to make sure that you’re able to compete up here,” Barnett said. “Having a few starts and getting through some lineups, it gives me confidence that I can come back next year and do it.”
As for the relationship between Barnett and Cameron, the two are still good. They plan to get breakfast in downtown Sacramento on Saturday morning and swap jerseys when the two get to the stadium before the game.
“I’m proud of him,” Cameron said. “He killed it tonight. Big things to come for him. … Hopefully I’m pitching against him in a lot of games.”