Mike Burrows #53

Michael Thomas Burrows...A native of Waterford, Conn., he was committed to attending the University of Connecticut prior to signing with the Pirates...Pitched a scoreless inning in the 2022 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles...He was the first Connecticut native to be selected to the game since George Springer in 2013...Is best friends with current Pirates pitching prospects Quinn Priester and Carmen Mlodzinski...He approximates he has more than 15 tattoos, including a full sleeve on his left arm…Included in the sleeve is a depiction of he and his dad when Mike was a little boy walking towards a lighthouse with a letter from his mom in her own handwriting underneath...His favorite player growing up was Josh Beckett who he tried to model his game after...Is a 2018 graduate of Waterford (Conn.) High School...Struck out 21 batters while throwing a no-hitter during his junior year...Signed by Pirates scout Eddie Charles.

2024

Began season on the 60-day injured list (rehabbing from right elbow surgery on 4/26/23)...Began a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League on 6/17; walked two batters and was charged with three runs in 1.1ip (28 pitches/14 strikes)...Had rehab transferred to Bradenton on 6/21...Tossed 1.2 innings and allowed one run on 6/23 vs. Lakeland...Had rehab transferred back to the FCL Pirates on 7/16...Gave up six hits and four runs in 2.2ip on 7/18 against the FCL Twins...Had rehab transferred to Indianapolis on 7/25; allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts in 4.0ip at Iowa... Suffered the loss on 8/2 vs. Toledo (3.1ip/4er/7so)... Pitched 5.0 scoreless innings of relief on 8/8 at Nashville... Struck out 10 batters and surrendered three runs in 5.0ip while winning the season finale on 9/22 at St. Paul...Posted a 1-3 record, a 5.26 ERA (51.1ip/31r/30er) and 59 strikeouts in 16 Minor League games (15 starts) overall... Was recalled from the Minor Leagues on 9/28...Made his Major League debut on 9/28 at Yankee Stadium; pitched 3.1 innings in relief of Paul Skenes (2.0ip) and was credited with his first big league win.

2023

Entered the season listed by Baseball America as being the ninth-best prospect in the Pirates' system...Made two starts for Triple-A Indianapolis, but left his start on 4/8 with a right forearm injury and was placed on the injured list on 4/11...Underwent Tommy John surgery on 4/26 and missed the remainder of the season...In total, posted a 2.70 ERA (6.2ip/2 er) with three strikeouts and .174 opponents average in his two outings prior to the injury.

2022

Entered 2022 season listed by Baseball America as having the “Best Curveball” in Pittsburgh’s minor league system...Was also ranked by FanGraphs as Pittsburgh’s 12th-best prospect entering the 2022 season...Was added to the Bucs' 40-man roster on 11/15...Split the season between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, combining to go 5-6 with a 4.01 ERA (94.1ip/42er) in 24 games (22 starts)...Went 4-2 with a 2.94 ERA (52.0ip/17er) and 69 strikeouts in 12 starts with Altoona before being promoted to Indianapolis on 6/16...Opened the season with a 1.00 ERA (18.0ip/2er) over four starts in April, holding the opposition to a .164 batting average in that time...Was selected to represent the National League in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game in Los Angeles on 7/16, tossing a scoreless fifth inning with a strikeout and a walk...After his promotion to Indianapolis, went 1-4 with a 5.31 ERA (42.1ip/25er) and 42 strikeouts in 12 games (10 starts)... Posted a 2.10 ERA (25.2 ip/6 er), 27 strikeouts and a .189 opponents average over a seven-game (five start) span from 7/12-8/28...Was placed on the 7-Day Injured List from 8/30- 9/28 with right shoulder inflammation.

2021

Entered season ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh’s 24th-best prospect... Spent entire season with High-A Greensboro, where he allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his 13 starts... Struck out eight batters in 4.0 scoreless innings while not allowing a hit in season debut on 5/7 vs. Hickory...Tossed 4.0 scoreless innings in his next start on 5/14...Had his 11.0-inning scoreless streak end in his next outing on 5/21 while also suffering the loss (4.1ip/3r/1er)... Ended the month of May with a 1.13 ERA (16.0ip/4r/2er) in four starts while also posting a .115 batting average against and 0.69 WHIP... Picked up his first win with the Grasshoppers in game one of a doubleheader on 6/10 at Hickory (5.0ip/1er)... Was placed on the injured list on 7/16 with a left oblique strain... Was reinstated on 9/7 and tossed 2.0 scoreless innings that night at Jersey Shore... Allowed seven runs in 3.0 innings in Game One of the High-A East League championship series... Surrendered one run in 2.0 innings while making the start in Game Five of the championship series at Bowling Green... Went 2-0 with a 3.52 ERA (15.1ip/6er) and 16 strikeouts in five appearances (one start) while pitching for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.