1. Overview
Edison Ernesto Barrios Castillo (born October 11, 1988) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. A right-handed pitcher, Barrios is known for holding the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) record for consecutive games with a hold. Throughout his career, he has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, the Kobe Suns in Japan's independent league, and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Yokohama DeNA BayStars in NPB, as well as the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in the Mexican League. His journey has been marked by overcoming injuries, transitioning between roles, and achieving significant milestones in Japanese baseball.
2. Early Life
Edison Ernesto Barrios Castillo was born on October 11, 1988, in Villa de Cura, Aragua, Venezuela. He hails from a family with a strong musical background; his father was a semi-professional bongo drum player, his cousin is a professional trumpet player, and two of his uncles are professional musicians playing timbales and saxophone. Barrios himself is proficient in playing the bongo and drums, expressing a desire to study music if he were to stop playing baseball.
3. Professional Career
Edison Barrios' professional baseball career began in 2006, spanning minor leagues, independent leagues, and top professional leagues in Venezuela, Japan, and Mexico.
3.1. Minor League and Independent League Career
Barrios spent his early career developing within minor league systems and making a notable impact in an independent league before reaching major professional circuits.
3.1.1. Pittsburgh Pirates Organization (2006-2008)
Barrios began his professional career in 2006, signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He played for the VSL Pirates, the Pirates' Rookie-level affiliate, for three seasons from 2006 to 2008. During this period, he consistently maintained an earned run average (ERA) below 2.00 in each year. Following the 2008 season, he became a free agent.
3.1.2. Venezuelan Winter League (2009-2011)
From 2009, Barrios participated in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, the country's professional winter league, for two consecutive years. Although he made several appearances, he did not achieve significant results during these stints. He also played in the Venezuelan winter league in 2011 after his initial contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks concluded. In 2011, he pitched 7.2 innings in relief with an ERA of NaN Q 3.52.
3.1.3. Kansai Independent League - Kobe Suns (2011)
In 2011, Barrios joined the Kobe Suns, a team entering the Kansai Independent League that year, officially joining the team on April 24. He primarily served as a starting pitcher for the Suns. During the first half of the season, Barrios was a standout performer, earning the most wins in the league and being selected for the Best Nine award, contributing significantly to his team's championship victory. He finished the first half with an ERA of NaN Q 1.66, which ranked fourth in the league.
3.2. Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)
Barrios' most extensive and impactful professional career was spent in Japan's top professional league, Nippon Professional Baseball, across multiple teams.
3.2.1. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (2011-2016)
Barrios had multiple stints and roles with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, navigating injuries, reclassifications, and ultimately becoming a key reliever.
3.2.2. Toyama GRN Thunderbirds (2017)
After his departure from the Hawks, Barrios joined the Toyama GRN Thunderbirds of the Baseball Challenge League (BC League) on March 6, 2017. He played one season with the team.
3.2.3. Yokohama DeNA BayStars (2018-2019)
On November 10, 2017, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars announced they had reached a contract agreement with Barrios. His uniform number was 42, and his estimated annual salary was 20.00 M JPY. In 2018, he recorded his first win with the BayStars on April 7 against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima. Despite receiving limited run support and only securing two wins, he proved to be a significant presence as both a starter and reliever, posting a NaN Q 3.33 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. The 2019 season, however, saw him struggle from the outset, with inconsistent pitching even in the minor league. He made only three starts for the first team. After the season, the BayStars informed him that his contract would not be renewed for the 2020 season, and he became a free agent on December 2, 2019.
3.3. Mexican League
Barrios had a brief involvement in the Mexican League that was affected by global events.
3.3.1. Diablos Rojos del Mexico (2020)
On April 2, 2020, Barrios signed with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico of the Mexican League. However, he did not play in any official games during the 2020 season, as the Mexican League season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was subsequently released on September 7, 2020, becoming a free agent.
4. Playing Style
Edison Barrios is a right-handed pitcher known for a strong fastball and a diverse repertoire of off-speed and breaking pitches. During his time with the Kobe Suns, his fastball averaged 91 mph (146 km/h) and reached a maximum velocity of 92 mph (148 km/h). Upon joining the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, his fastball velocity increased, hitting a career high of 94 mph (152 km/h) in his first minor league appearance. He effectively utilizes both a four-seam fastball and a two-seam fastball, and is known for his aggressive approach, frequently pitching inside to batters. Manager Kimiyasu Kudo noted in May 2015 that Barrios' pitching felt faster than its actual velocity due to his ability to utilize his lower body in a manner similar to Japanese pitchers.
Before his NPB career, Barrios primarily threw a slider, curveball, and changeup. After moving to NPB, he refined his forkball and developed a new cutter. He also incorporates a knuckle curve. While then-manager Koji Akiyama noted in 2012 that Barrios' pitching could be monotonous, his later success as a reliever in NPB, particularly with his varied pitch selection, indicated development in his approach.
5. Personal Life
Beyond the baseball diamond, Edison Barrios' personal life reflects his character, cultural ties, and adaptability.
5.1. Family and Hobbies
Barrios' family is deeply rooted in music, with his father being a semi-professional bongo drum player, his cousin a professional trumpet player, and two uncles professionally playing timbales and saxophone. Barrios himself possesses musical talent, proficient in playing the bongo and drums, and has expressed an interest in pursuing music education if he were to retire from baseball.
A unique aspect of Barrios' personal life is his fondness for capybara meat. In his home country of Venezuela, capybara is raised for consumption and is a food he enjoys on special occasions. He has described the taste as being similar to that of alligator.
After his Tommy John surgery in Japan, while his family remained in Venezuela during his rehabilitation, he later moved out of the team dormitory in July 2013 after regaining his controlled player status. He then began living with his wife and their one-year-old son, Edixon, in Japan. During the off-season, he often returns to Venezuela to train at a baseball academy located near his home, an academy he was once part of.
5.2. Interpersonal Relations and Language Skills
Barrios has maintained strong interpersonal relationships throughout his career. While in Venezuela, he even formed a battery with the son of Alex Cabrera, who would later become his teammate on the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. After moving to Fukuoka, he frequently called the staff of his former team, the Kobe Suns, highlighting his close ties.
Despite the language barrier in Japan, Barrios showed dedication to learning Japanese. He lived in the team dormitory without an interpreter and diligently learned from younger players, eventually reaching a level where he could read hiragana. In interviews, he often speaks in Spanish-accented English. He holds a deep respect for SoftBank Hawks Chairman Sadaharu Oh, with whom he shares a meal annually during spring training, valuing Oh's insights on baseball and life experiences. Notably, the day he tied the NPB record for consecutive holds coincided with Oh's birthday, and Barrios sent him a message in Japanese. Even when Barrios faced struggles on the mound in 2015, manager Kimiyasu Kudo publicly expressed trust in him, stating he would not demote him to the minor league, emphasizing his previous contributions to the team.
6. Career Statistics and Achievements
Edison Barrios' career has been marked by notable statistical performances and unique achievements, particularly in Japanese professional baseball.
6.1. Annual Pitching Statistics
| Year | Team | G | GS | CG | SHO | W | L | SV | HLD | WPCT | BF | IP | H | HR | BB | HBP | SO | WP | BK | R | ER | ERA | WHIP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | SoftBank | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .667 | 63 | 13.2 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 4.61 | 1.69 | |
| 2014 | SoftBank | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 12 | 2.2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3.38 | 1.88 | |
| 2015 | SoftBank | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 20 | .000 | 152 | 34.0 | 37 | 1 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 12 | 3.18 | 1.56 | |
| 2016 | SoftBank | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 60 | 12.2 | 20 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 7.82 | 1.97 | |
| 2018 | DeNA | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | .286 | 228 | 54.0 | 52 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 39 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 20 | 3.33 | 1.19 |
| 2019 | DeNA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .333 | 66 | 14.2 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 4.30 | 1.50 |
| Total: 6 years | 63 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 23 | .294 | 581 | 131.2 | 142 | 4 | 50 | 5 | 8 | 111 | 6 | 3 | 65 | 58 | 3.96 | 1.46 | |
| Year | Team | G | W | L | SV | WPCT | BF | IP | H | HR | BB | HBP | SO | WP | BK | R | ER | ERA | SO/9 | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Kobe | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 | .857 | 202 | 48.2 | 37 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 38 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 1.66 | 7.03 | 1.23 |
| 2017 | Toyama | 18 | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 386 | 97.1 | 73 | 1 | 29 | 5 | 103 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 15 | 1.39 | 9.52 | 1.05 |
| Total: 2 years | 27 | 16 | 5 | 0 | .762 | 588 | 146.0 | 110 | 1 | 51 | 6 | 141 | 9 | 1 | 32 | 24 | 1.48 | 8.69 | 1.10 | |
6.2. Major Records
6.2.1. NPB
; Firsts
- First appearance and first start: August 18, 2013, vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at Obihiro no Mori Baseball Stadium, 5 innings, 2 earned runs.
- First win and first win as a starter: August 18, 2013, vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
- First strikeout: August 18, 2013, vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, striking out Michel Abreu looking in the 1st inning.
- First hold: March 28, 2015, vs. Chiba Lotte Marines at Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome, entering as the second pitcher in the 8th inning, 1 scoreless inning.
- First save: June 23, 2015, vs. Saitama Seibu Lions at Saitama Prefectural Omiya Park Baseball Stadium, entering as the second pitcher in the 7th inning, 1 scoreless inning. (Game called due to rain in the middle of the 8th inning).
; Other Records
- 17 consecutive games with a hold: 2015 season. This tied the NPB record held by Kyuji Fujikawa.
6.3. Uniform Numbers
Barrios wore a variety of uniform numbers throughout his professional career:
- 34 (2011 - July 28, 2011; 2017)
- 69 (July 29, 2011 - end of 2011 season)
- 142 (2012 - July 30, 2013; January 7, 2015 - March 23, 2015)
- 7 (July 31, 2013 - end of 2013 season)
- 67 (2014)
- 65 (March 24, 2015 - 2016)
- 42 (2018 - 2019)