Menhart thrives on his connection to pitchers

There were handshakes all around the Nationals dugout after relief pitcher Aaron Barrett made a tear-jerking return to the major leagues. But the first hug he got Saturday in Atlanta came from pitching coach Paul Menhart, and for good reason.

“He has helped me a lot on the field, but off the field, too,” Barrett said.

Barrett was drafted by the Nationals in 2010 and, three years later, he worked his way to Double-A Harrisburg, where he met Menhart, their pitching coach at the time.

After pitching for the Nationals in 2014 and 2015, Tommy John surgery and other arm problems forced the right-hander from Indiana out of the majors. His comeback was capped Saturday with a scoreless inning of relief…