Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Had things gone differently, Barr might now be a part of the University of Tennessee rotation. But the top junior college player in the 2025 Draft class threw well enough at Niagara County Community College, now known as SUNY Niagara, to catch the attention of the Twins. They went over slot in the fifth round to sign the right-hander for $762,500, making him just the second Thunderwolves player to go in the top five rounds, joining 2023 Brewers fifth-round pick Ryan Birchard.

The 20-year-old Barr is a 6-foot-6 poster child for projection with some good now stuff. He can run his fastball up to 97 mph and it features very good life up in the zone. He has a pair of distinct breaking pitches with his slider and curve, and both missed a lot of bats en route to him dominating the NJCAA DIII level. His breaking stuff registers elite-level spin rates and his heater plays up because of spin on that as well.

Barr has a loose, easy and athletic delivery, so there’s belief that he can improve what’s been spotty command and control. He’s on the raw side and as good as he is at spinning the ball, he hasn’t always had a feel for consistent grips. There’s a lot of upside here, given that he has plenty of room to fill out both his frame and his repertoire.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Niagara County Community College, now known as SUNY Niagara, has had 10 players drafted from the program, including two pitchers in the 2023 class, led by Brewers third-rounder Ryan Birchard. The top junior college player in the 2025 Draft class, Barr joined Birchard as just the second Thunderwolves player to go in the top five rounds when the Twins took him in the fifth and went over slot to sign him away from his commitment to Tennessee for $762,500.

At 6-foot-6, the long-limbed Barr oozes projection from the mound, and he already has some pretty exciting now stuff. He throws everything with a ton of spin, including a fastball he can crank up to 97 mph with good life. Both his slider and curve register elite-level spin rates and helped him miss a ton of bats at the NJCAA DIII level. 

Barr's control will need refinement; he's shown he can be around the strike zone, but his command can be scattered. There's conviction among scouts that, given the ease of operation and the loose and athletic delivery, he'll be a decent strike-thrower in time. He's a bit raw, but the ingredients are all there, including the ability to add strength, giving him considerable starting pitcher upside.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Niagara County Community College, now known as SUNY Niagara, has had 10 players drafted from the program, including two pitchers in the 2023 class led by Brewers third-rounder Ryan Birchard. Barr has the chance to join Birchard as just the second Thunderwolves player to go in the top five rounds after vaulting to the top of junior college prospects lists this spring and making scouts log the miles up close to Lake Ontario to check him out.

At 6-foot-6, the long-limbed Barr oozes projection from the mound, and he already has some pretty exciting now stuff. He throws everything with a ton of spin, including a fastball he can crank up to 97 mph with good life. Both his slider and curve register elite-level spin rates and help him miss a ton of bats at the NJCAA DIII level. 

Barr's control will need refinement; he's shown he can be around the strike zone, but his command can be scattered. There's conviction among scouts that, given the ease of operation and the loose and athletic delivery, he'll be a decent strike-thrower in time. He's a bit raw, but the ingredients are all there, including the ability to add strength, to make him an intriguing early-round possibility.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	RHP Matt Barr assigned to Minnesota Twins Prospects.
	08/04/2025	FCL Twins activated RHP Matt Barr.
	07/25/2025	RHP Matt Barr assigned to FCL Twins.
	07/24/2025	Minnesota Twins signed RHP Matt Barr.
	06/01/2025	RHP Matt Barr assigned to College Workout.