Mike Burrows’ bid for an opening day roster spot all but officially ended last Tuesday when he was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.
But make no mistake: The 25-year-old righty had already left quite an impression with the Pirates brass.
When the Waterford, Conn., native made his MLB debut last September at Yankee Stadium in front of dozens of family members and friends, what stood out most to manager Derek Shelton was the young hurler’s confidence, especially only a year and change removed from Tommy John surgery.
"No fear. I mean, you get that start at the end of a rehab-type situation,” Shelton said. “To come to New York and pitch like that and go right at [hitters] — and in a stadium that's very close to his house. He grew up going to those games. So that was the thing that stood out to me the most: just how composed he was."
Burrows’ sole MLB appearance — one in which he tossed 3⅓ innings of one-run ball — was notably better than what he put forth this spring, at least on paper. He compiled a 7.20 ERA across his three appearances, two of which were starts against the Atlanta Braves.
There were some bright moments sprinkled in, however. In his last start before being optioned, Burrows got the Braves’ Jurickson Profar and Austin Riley to strike out on his changeup and slider, the latter of which is a pitch Burrows is throwing more frequently since adding it to his repertoire just before he underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2023.
The slider has some similarities to a cutter, and Burrows is throwing that offspeed pitch more frequently than his curveball these days, especially to right-handed hitters.
“It’s just right in the mix now,” Burrows said. “I feel good with it. Just going to keep throwing it.”
Burrows hopes to keep hucking it as a starter, which by all indications is still the plan for the Pirates’ No. 15 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline. He was a top-10 prospect in the organization, after all, before he was sidelined due to surgery just two years ago.
It would be easy to move Burrows to the bullpen full time, with his injury history, relatively slight stature (6-foot-1) and the presences of various top pitching prospects like right-handers Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington and Braxton Ashcraft, all of whom could very well make their own MLB debuts this season.
But when asked last week if Burrows had a chance to take on a relief role akin to what Luis Ortiz embraced last year, Shelton shot down such an idea.
"I think right now we still view him as a starter,” Shelton said. “We really haven't determined what the overall look of our bullpen's going to be. But the fact that he has the ability to throw multiple innings, I mean, I guess you could look at him.
“But right now, we're looking at him as a starter.”
That vocal and public support isn’t lost on Burrows, who less than three years ago represented the Pirates at the Futures Game and was as prized as any pitching prospect within the franchise.
“Just knowing they have the confidence in me to be a starter and stay a starter right now is huge,” Burrows said.
It isn’t difficult to see how Burrows could be an effective starter, after all. Once he inched closer to being fully healthy last season, Burrows’ fastball got as hot at 97 mph and regularly sat in the mid-90s. Burrows pairs that heater with a changeup in the mid-80s that generates all sorts of whiffs, as well as his two breaking balls.
It would likely be to the Pirates’ and Burrows’ benefit if such an arsenal were put to use in a starting capacity. If the rotation at the MLB level gets a little too crowded, though, Burrows isn’t against the idea of moving to the bullpen if need be.
“We talked about that, too,” Burrows said. “If there’s a time and place during this year where that comes and I can help them in that way, then I’d be willing to do that.”
Frankly, Burrows is just grateful to be fully healthy again. The most serious ailment Burrows dealt with prior to Tommy John surgery was an oblique issue that sidelined him for roughly six weeks in 2021.
The 2024 campaign was a success in multiple ways. Not only did he successfully complete his rehab and fare well against Triple-A hitters, but Burrows also made his MLB debut and demonstrated he could belong at that level for good one day.
Based on the Pirates’ latest moves, that day won’t be March 27, which is when the club will open the regular season against the Marlins. However, Burrows is just glad to be operating at full capacity again at the outset of a brand-new campaign, which he hasn’t been able to say for quite some time.
“Really good offseason. Positive offseason,” Burrows said. “Good to come into camp healthy and at least have a shot this year.”
First Published: March 14, 2025, 9:30 a.m.
