Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2011 MLB Draft, Scott Barlow signed with the Kansas City Royals before the 2018 season. He began the year in Triple-A Omaha as a starter and posted 5.37 ERA in 13 starts (16 appearances) but had struck out 60 batters in 53.2 innings of work.
When he was called up to the Royals on April 30, Ned Yost utilized him mostly in long relief with his first appearance tossing 3.0 innings. In fact, in the 6 appearances he made with the team last season, only once did he pitch less than 1.