Season of Joy
/Texarkana native Klancy Johnson-Barlow and her husband, MLB pitcher Scotty Barlow, share news of their daughter, Bronwyn Lake
By Phoebe Warren
photo by visuals by tania.
Local Klancy Johnson-Barlow met her husband, Scotty, while he was visiting family in Texarkana. When the two were introduced, they hit it off immediately. “Of course I noticed how tall and handsome he was,” Klancy said. “I was even more impressed by his wit, sense of humor, and plethora of knowledge.”
The instant spark was mutual. “Her beauty caught my eye first-off,” Scotty said. “Then, as we got to talking, I fell in love with her personality and sense of humor.”
Though they began their relationship long-distance, the connection deepened quickly. “Scotty and I talked everyday, nonstop, and never ran out of things to talk about,” Klancy said. “We’re different people in so many ways, but those differences somehow fit together like puzzle pieces.” They dated for nearly two years before getting engaged in January 2017 and married that November, at Garrison Gardens in Texarkana.
Klancy and Scotty were married at Garrison Gardens wedding venue in November 2017. photo by debbie brower photography.
Their first year of marriage was a whirlwind. Shortly after their honeymoon, baseball player Scotty signed his first major league contract with the Kansas City Royals. Originally from Quaker Hill, Connecticut, Scotty had begun playing baseball at age 10, and his dream of pitching in the major leagues never wavered. His MLB debut came on April 30th, 2018, against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Klancy announced her pregnancy on her jacket for the opening day of 2025. Inset: All of Klancy’s custom jackets, including this 2023 opening-day look, were created by Pleasant Grove Middle School art teacher Taylor Timmons. submitted photos.
“It was a wet and muddy game, but [being able] to run out to the mound to the entire stadium rocking out to ‘Sweet Caroline’ was one of the most incredible moments of my life,” Scotty said. Klancy describes that day as being surreal: “I witnessed firsthand the literal blood, sweat, and tears that had led up to that moment,” she said. The couple established their “home base” in Kansas City.
The following fall, Scotty played in the Dominican Republic and then had the opportunity to represent the Royals at the Japan All-Star series. “We spent our first anniversary flying to Tokyo,” Klancy said. “We couldn’t have had a better—or busier—start to forever.”
While their early days of marriage were a bit out of the ordinary, Klancy and Scotty each gained invaluable experiences. The couple purchased a fifth-wheel camper and lived in it together for a couple of years, along with their dogs, Harry and Heidi. “We loved feeling like we were home, no matter where we parked,” Klancy said.
“We’re really cherishing our family time at home, learning how to be the best parents for our daughter. We’re so excited for her first holiday season.”
While she and Scotty joke that she was “baptized by fire into the baseball world,” she has now fully adapted to the lifestyle of being married to a pro player, learning the ins and outs of the game, traveling solo, and interacting with new people from all kinds of backgrounds. “I’ve learned to embrace the chaos and unpredictability,” she said. “I also lean on the other women who live this lifestyle. Baseball families become our own little village during the season. Even with its challenges, it’s absolutely worth it. I try to soak it all in—every city, every team, every ballpark.”
Klancy is on the road constantly from February to October; she has been to 26 of the 30 stadiums Scotty has played at. Scotty travels on the team plane to and from the away games, and family members must organize and pay for their own travel. Though the constant travel is a grueling part of this gig, there are some nice perks. “Scotty has been on great teams that put a lot of work into making sure the families are taken care of—a great family liaison to work with us throughout the season, a family lounge, free childcare during home games, family trips, and premier parking,” Klancy said.
Scotty is currently a relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. He signed with the Reds in February 2025.
While Scotty works hard on the field, Klancy takes her supporting role seriously. In 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak made family members unable to cheer on their beloved players in-person for that season. “I wanted something unique and totally custom to wear to celebrate being back in the stands to cheer Scotty on for the 2021 season,” she said. “That opening day I wore a personalized denim jacket with Scotty’s name and number on it, along with patches of our dogs, Harry and Heidi.” She decided to make it a yearly tradition, and since then, her opening day jackets continue to grow more intricate and showstopping. “All of my truly custom jackets have been created by my dear friend and phenomenal artist, Taylor Timmons,” she said. “She has created the most stunning jackets for me using so many different materials, creating a look with so many layers and textures.”
Klancy’s jackets have become something many look forward to, eager to find out what her opening-day look will be each year. “I think my elaborate outfits garnered a lot of attention because ‘opening-day ‘fits’ weren’t really a baseball thing a few years ago, at least that I ever saw,” she said. “It was kind of considered uncool to wear something so loud and colorful with the players name and number on it. But where’s the fun in that?”
photo by visuals by tania.
Klancy and Scotty Barlow decided to add even more excitement to their busy lives and take on a different kind of challenge: parenthood. This past July, they welcomed their daughter into the world. “Bronwyn Lake Barlow is our heart and soul,” Klancy said. “Welcoming our child into the world put everything else in perspective.”
Having a baby while navigating the professional baseball world has had its ups and downs for the Barlows. Klancy gave birth to Bronwyn during the season, and Scotty was given 72 hours of paternity leave in Kansas City before rejoining his team in Cincinnati. “While baseball is absolutely worth the challenges, him leaving so soon after welcoming our daughter was a tough goodbye for us both,” Klancy said. However, Scotty has more motivation than ever to play his best, knowing that his daughter is now a part of his fan base. Bronwyn went to her first baseball game last summer, only a month old. “Scotty loved knowing she was there, and the photos we took of them on the field are heart-melting,” Klancy said. “When the Reds made it to the post-season, we flew to Los Angeles to cheer him on as he faced the Dodgers.”
Every day is meaningful to these new parents, and they take care to appreciate the precious moments together as a family. “Waking her up in the mornings is my favorite,” Scotty said. “She wakes up so happy and excited to see us. It’s the best start to my day ever.”
With the MLB season ending, the Barlows are getting ready to travel to Connecticut and Texarkana so they can make sure Bronwyn meets most of her family. “We’re really cherishing our family time at home, learning how to be the best parents for our daughter,” Klancy said. “We’re so excited for her first holiday season.”
photo by visuals by tania.
The Barlows may not plan to slow down for long, but their future will be filled with memories made as a family that make the hustle and bustle worth it. “I can’t wait to watch our daughter grow up and experience the world through her eyes,” Scotty said.
For Klancy, taking on parenthood with Scotty is also something to look forward to. “We’ve learned to be flexible and take things as they come,” she said. “We’re working together as a team to build the life we’ve dreamed of.”