Nationals acquire Kyle Barraclough

The Washington Nationals acquired right-handed pitcher Kyle Barraclough from the Miami Marlins in exchange for international slot value on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Barraclough, 28, went 15-12 with 11 saves, a 3.21 ERA and 11.48 strikeouts per 9.0 innings in 227 games across four Major League seasons (2015-18) with the Miami Marlins. Since the start of the 2016 season, Barraclough ranks among National League relievers in opponent slugging percentage (11th, .295), strikeouts per 9.0 innings (12th, 11.53) and opponent batting average (14th, .198).

Barraclough started the 2018 season strong, recording a 0.99 ERA (4 ER/36.1 IP) through his first 37 appearances, holding opponents to .085 batting average (10-for-117) and a .162 slugging percentage (3 2B, 2 HR) over that span. He was named National League Reliever of the Month for June after allowing just one hit in 38 batters faced while striking out 12 batters and issuing just two walks in 12 appearances. He went 7-for-7 in save opportunities in the month of June.

All told in 2018, Barraclough recorded a career-high 10 saves while pitching to a 4.20 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 55.2 innings pitched (61 G). He offered scoreless relief in 46 of his 61 appearances and hitless relief in 35 of the 61. He posted a 20.2 scoreless innings streak from May 11^th to June 30^th, tied for the eighth-longest streak in the National League in 2018.

A native of Santa Clara, Calif., Barraclough was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of St. Mary's College of California. He was acquired by Miami from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for right-handed pitcher Steve Cishek on July 24, 2015.