VIDEO: Nationals' Aaron Barrett Getting Called up After Astounding Injury Comeback is Heartwarming
By Karl Rasmussen
Every minor league baseball player dreams of being called up to the big leagues, but it's possible no one dreams as hard as Aaron Barrett, someone who's already seen it all slip away. Barrett found out on Tuesday that he'd be heading back to the Nationals, officially completing a comeback from a downright nightmarish injury slate. And when his manager, Matt LeCroy, delivered the news, he couldn't help but break down.
The moment Aaron Barrett found out he was going back to the bigs. Congratulations, Aaron!
— Harrisburg Senators (@HbgSenators) September 3, 2019
cc: @Nationals @masnNationals @MLB @MiLB @aaronbarrett30 pic.twitter.com/RSxQ1b9dMT
LeCroy was brought to tears while passionately describing Barrett's outstanding work ethic and commitment to his craft. Why was this such an endearing moment, you may ask?
Aaron Barrett last pitched in the major leagues in 2015.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 3, 2019
He didn't pitch at all in 2016 and 2017 after Tommy John surgery and the worst pitching injury: a broken humerus.
In 2018, at 30 years old, he returned in Low-A.
He spent all of this year in Double-A.
This is awesome. https://t.co/fOZKof45EN
Barrett pitched well in the MLB in 2014 before the wheels fell off slightly the next season, but has encountered awful injury problems since his last stint in the bigs. He missed the entire 2016 and 2017 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery and fighting through a broken humerus, an injury he suffered mid-rehab that would generally serve as a pretty significant deterrent.
Not for Barrett.
After a long and difficult battle to return to the bigs, the man is finally back.
This is amazing. Aaron Barrett rehabbed back from one of the worst arm injuries you can imagine. That came following a lengthy Tommy John rehab. This guy battled through stuff we can’t imagine. What a great moment, and couldn’t happen to a better guy. https://t.co/xRMOSGmq65
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) September 3, 2019
As soon as LeCroy managed to deliver the end of his speech, dropping the official news to Barrett that he was going to the bigs, the entire team piled on in an epic celebration, giving a huge cheer to the 31-year-old. He's arguably the most deserving player in the entire sport at another shot in the bigs, and let's hope he can make the most of it.