Barr heads to North Star State, picked in fifth round by Minnesota Twins
After helping SUNY Niagara punch its ninth trip to the NJCAA Division III World Series and record a single-season record 51 wins, Matt Barr is taking his talents to the Midwest.
The right-handed freshman pitcher from Cheektowaga was selected by the Minnesota Twins as the 149th overall pick during the fifth round of the 2025 MLB Draft Monday in Atlanta. Barr is now the 10th player drafted directly from SUNY Niagara — formerly known as Niagara County Community College — since the program began in 1967 and the highest selection since Jon Roth was taken 134th by the Washington Senators in the January 1969 MLB Draft.
The NJCAA Division III Pitcher of the Year, Barr went 10-0 in 10 starts with a 1.74 ERA and a team-high 94 strikeouts, the fourth most in the division. In 57 innings of work, Barr allowed only 22 hits, 11 earned runs, recorded four complete games and two shutouts and limited opponents to an .118 batting average.
One of three NJCAA Division III All-Americans from SUNY Niagara this season, Barr posted an average of 14.84 strikeouts per nine innings. The average was the sixth-highest in the country and third best among NJCAA Division III pitchers, behind only Middlesex's Ryan Rzepinski (15.52) and Bronx Community College's Frailin Jimenez (14.94).
A first-team selection for both the NJCAA Region III and All-WNYAC teams, Barr threw at least six innings six times with the blue-and-gold. This included Barr's seven-inning performance versus Northern Essex Community College in an NJCAA Division III World Series elimination game on May 25.
Barr also struck out at least 10 batters in four outings with the Thunderwolves. Barr recorded a season-high 12 strikeouts against Minnesota State Community and Technical College on March 13 and Monroe Community College on May 1.
Named both the Freshman Athlete and Baseball Freshman Player of the Year by the WNYAC, Barr's resume in his lone season at SUNY Niagara included two one-hitters. These came in wins against Jackson College on March 7 and Minnesota State Community and Technical College on March 13.
With his selection by Minnesota, Barr was the first player drafted from SUNY Niagara since Brendan Morse was selected 531st overall in the 18th round by the Texas Rangers in 2023. Barr is also the eighth overall MLB Draft pick with SUNY Niagara ties since the Matt Clingersmith era began in 2006.
Since relocating from Washington, D.C., in 1961, the Minnesota Twins won the World Series in 1987 and 1991. The Twins have featured notable players including Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, Joe Nathan and Kirby Puckett.
Matt Barr's SUNY Niagara starts:
March 7 versus Jackson College: 5 Innings, 0 runs, 1 hit, 9 strikeouts
March 13 versus Minnesota State Community and Technical College: 5 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit, 12 strikeouts
March 25 versus Genesee Community College: 6 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 10 strikeouts, 3 walks
April 1 at Genesee Community College: 5 innings, 4 runs (3 earned), 2 hits, 8 strikeouts, 5 walks
April 12 at Erie Community College: 5 innings, 4 runs (3 earned), 3 hits, 9 strikeouts, 2 walks
April 24 versus Onondaga Community College: 5 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, 7 strikeouts
May 1 at Monroe Community College: 6 innings, 2 runs, 2 hits, 12 strikeouts, 4 walks
May 10 versus SUNY Broome Community College (Region III Sub-Regional): 6 innings, 2 runs (1 earned), 7 strikeouts, 1 walk
May 16 versus Herkimer College (Region III Final Four): 6 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits, 9 strikeouts, 2 walks
May 25 versus Northern Essex Community College (NJCAA Div. III World Series elimination game): 7 innings, 0 runs, 4 hits, 11 strikeouts, 4 walks
SUNY Niagara Baseball MLB Draft History, in chronological pick order, since 1967:
13 players total selected with school ties, 10 directly picked from NCCC/SUNY Niagara
Alumni indicated in italics
Robert Sekel, Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles, June 1971 MLB Secondary Phase Draft: 1st Round, 9th Overall
Michael Balogh, Pitcher, New York Mets, June 1969 MLB Secondary Phase Draft: 5th Round, 95th Overall
Jon Roth, Pitcher, Washington Senators, January 1969 MLB Draft: 7th Round, 134th Overall
Matt Barr, Pitcher, Minnesota Twins, 2025 MLB Draft: 5th Round, 149th Overall... Matt Clingersmith era
Ryan Birchard, Pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers, 2023 MLB Draft: 5th Round, 155th Overall... Matt Clingersmith era
Steve Fingerlow, Pitcher, New York Yankees, January 1983 MLB Draft: 8th Round, 192nd Overall ... Competed for NCCC in 1981 and 1982 seasons
Zach Evans, Shortstop, San Diego Padres, 2024 MLB Draft: 9th Round, 270th Overall ... Spent two years at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne in 2023 and 2024 seasons... Matt Clingersmith era
Sean Jamieson, Infielder, Oakland Athletics, 2011 MLB Draft: 17th Round, 526th Overall... Spent two years at Division I Canisius in 2010 and 2011 seasons... Matt Clingersmith era
Brendan Morse, Pitcher, Texas Rangers, 2023 MLB Draft: 18th Round, 531st Overall... Matt Clingersmith era
Matt Cross, Catcher, Oakland Athletics, 2018 MLB Draft: 19th Round, 563rd Overall... Matt Clingersmith era
Christian Young, Pitcher, Cincinnatti Reds, 2017 MLB Draft: 21st Round, 617th Overall... Matt Clingersmith era
Christian Young, Pitcher, Oakland Athletics, 2016 MLB Draft: 23rd Round, 682nd Overall... Matt Clingersmith era
Christian Barczykowski, Pitcher, Atlanta Braves, 2012 MLB Draft: 27th Round, 839th Overall... Matt Clingersmith era
Michael McPartlin, Third Baseman, Los Angeles Dodgers, 1967 June MLB Draft: 56th Round, 906th Overall ... Program's first MLB draft selection