MLB Draft 2011: Boston Red Sox Draft UConn Star Right-Hander Matt Barnes

UConn Country and Red Sox Nation overlap throughout New England, especially the Connecticut/southern Massachusetts areas. Many Red Sox fans in southern New England also support UConn.

There is now reason for both to celebrate together.

Matt Barnes is a member of the Boston Red Sox.

The 6'4" flamethrower from Bethel, Conn. was taken 19th overall by the Sox in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft.

Barnes is one of, if not the greatest UConn pitchers in history. He is in the middle of the NCAA Tournament with the Huskies at the moment, where he will be key as they will be taking on South Carolina in the Super Regionals with a spot to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. on the line.

The junior is a major reason why UConn baseball is the best team outside the Southeastern, Southern or Western parts of the United States. The Huskies are among the highest ranked teams in the country, finding themselves in the Top 20 in most polls.

The 2011 Big East Pitcher of the Year is currently 11-4 in 16 starts for the Huskies and boasts an ERA of 1.62. He averages near a full eight innings pitched a game and has thrown three complete games with all three being shutouts. He also has an incredible 111 strikeouts.

Barnes, who is in fact a New York Yankees fan, drops jaws and breaks radar guns when he pitches. His fastball hits the upper-90s and his curveball spins batters out of their shoes as it drops devastatingly at the final moment, leaving batters helpless.

Barnes will be a devastating pitcher, that I have no doubt about. I have seen him pitch a few times this year. I have seen a lot of major and minor league games and began attending college games in the spring.

Barnes is one of the best pitchers I have ever seen take the hill.

Whether its as a starter or if the Sox get ambitious and make him a closer, the organization needs to hold on to this guy. He could become the backbone of the pitching staff in time.