On Monday, a former Clemson pitcher made his long-awaited return to the big leagues.

Former Tiger lefthander Charlie Barnes, now of the Chicago Cubs, received a call-up to the majors.

The Cubs selected Barnes’ contract from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, and on Monday, he appeared in Chicago’s 13-7 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

Barnes signed a minor-league contract with Chicago in January, and Monday marked his first time pitching in a Major League Baseball game in five years. He pitched nine games for the Minnesota Twins in 2021.

While Barnes experienced success in Minnesota’s minor league organization, he posted only a 5.92 ERA and 1.63 WHIP over 38 innings with the big-league club. As a result, the Twins designated him for assignment in mid-November 2021, and he subsequently signed with the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization in December of that year, seeking the opportunity to revive his career while pitching overseas.

It’s been a long and winding path back to the big leagues for Barnes since then. During Monday’s broadcast of the Cubs-Phillies game, play-by-play announcer Kevin Kugler detailed Barnes’ journey back to Major League Baseball:

“Nine games with the Twins in 2021. Earned run average of nearly 6. He then signed with the Giants in the Korean Baseball League. Was there in 2022, 2023, 2024. Came back to the States in mid-2025. Signed a minor league deal with the Reds. Was a starter with the Triple-A Louisville Bats. His earned run average over 7. Elected free agency after the season. The Cubs signed him to a minor league deal. He began the year in Iowa, Triple-A. … And with the injuries that the Cubs have had … Charlie Barnes called up (Sunday) and added to the active roster for the Cubs.”

Barnes entered in the sixth inning of Monday’s game and allowed three runs in his first inning but settled in after that and saved the Cubs’ bullpen in a blowout loss. Overall, he pitched the final three innings for Chicago, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks with one strikeout. He threw 62 pitches, including 33 strikes.

The Cubs subsequently optioned Barnes back to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday in order to bring up a fresh relief arm.

Barnes posted strong numbers over three games (one start) at Triple-A Iowa this season, with a 2.38 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 14 strikeouts against six walks and only eight hits allowed in 11.1 innings pitched.

Before making his MLB debut with the Twins in July 2021, Barnes was 22-18 with a 3.72 ERA and 304 strikeouts in 355.2 innings pitched over 72 appearances (70 starts) in four minor league seasons at every level of the Twins organization.

A native of Sumter, S.C. and product of Sumter High School, Barnes was drafted by the Twins in the fourth round (No. 106 overall pick) of the 2017 MLB Draft.

Barnes pitched three seasons at Clemson from 2015-17. He made most of his appearances out of the bullpen as a freshman, then became a weekend starter during the entire 2016 season and became the Friday starter in 2017. In 220 innings pitched over 44 appearances (34 starts) during his career as a Tiger, he had a 12-11 record and 3.85 ERA while allowing 221 hits (.259 opponents’ batting average) and 54 walks with 220 strikeouts. He was a third-team All-ACC selection in 2017.

–Photo courtesy of Clemson Athletics