The Twins announced Tuesday that they’ve claimed righty Beau Burrows off waivers from the Tigers, who’d previously designated the former first-rounder for assignment. He’ll report to Triple-A St. Paul.
Burrows, 24, was the No. 22 overall pick back in 2015 and long rated as one of the Tigers’ better prospects, but he’s struggled both in the upper minors and in his brief time with the MLB club. In 8 1/3 innings with the Tigers, he’s surrendered eight runs on 10 hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Burrows’ work in Triple-A hasn’t yielded better results, as he’s been tagged for a 5.66 ERA in 82 2/3 frames.
That said, Burrows isn’t terribly far removed from ranking as the game’s No. 77 prospect in the estimation of Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com back in 2018. He’s battled shoulder and biceps injuries over the years and was limited to just 74 innings during his last full season in 2019. But Burrows sat 94.5 mph with his fastball in his brief MLB time this year and was at 93.7 mph last year. His fastball draws average or better reviews in scouting reports, but Burrows has had trouble settling on and consistently executing his mix of secondary pitches. He’s at times used a changeup, curveball, slider and cutter, but none has settled in as a consistently above-average offering to this point.
The Twins have been hit hard by injuries so far in 2021 and had an open spot on the 40-man roster, so there’s little harm in taking what amounts to a free look at a once-promising prospect. Burrows can be optioned for the remainder of the 2021 season and also has one additional minor league option year remaining beyond the current campaign.
Didn’t realize he was that bad. It wasn’t long ago when he was part of the highly rated Tigers SP prospect pack. At least Mize looks good out of that group. Skubal looks like he’s figuring it out. And if Manning becomes anything in MLB, that still looks like a good chunk of a nice future rotation.
If they add Kumar Rocker next month, watch the F’n out!!
He was better in the low minors. Prospects are like milk, they expire if you hold them too long. Dave Dombrowski was the master of drafting arms and trading them.
Hard to be “that bad” in less than nine innings of work. With arm injuries and covid time off, can’t put too much weight on recent results.
I thought he was a great hurler.
Pitcher, not so much.
That’s a good pickup/Flier for a team that isn’t competing. I wouldn’t have minded if the
Pirates picked him up.
I’m still PO-ed about the #1 overall rule 5 pick needed TJ surgery..again.
I wish the Pirates would have taken Akil Baddoo. They could use the CF help. Although, Anthony Alford is crushing it in AAA. Pirates need to give him another shot. Or J.Olivia. Since Travis Swaggerty is hurt.
Tigers scored big on him. Can’t fault the Twins from exposing him to Rule 5 coming off TJ surgery & was at A ball. Lucky ass break and they needed him in the worst way. He will probably start the year at AAA & play full time. He will get invited back to Spring Training and if he lights it up again, well he may never go back down. Love him!!
I’m not so sure he gets sent down. If he hits .270 this year and has a good spring training, I think he stays.
If you’re referring to Akil Badoo, he’s a rule 5 acquisition so he must stay on the active roster all season or be returned to MIN.
I think they mean for next year
Not so sure about him starting next year in AAA, DDave. Pitchers adjusted to Baddoo and he adjusted back. He reduced his Ks and started to walk a bunch. He might just be a major leaguer after all.
I hope MIN can teach Beau Burrows the subtle art of pitching. He’s been terrible in AA and AAA.
It seems like the Twins stopped teaching guys how to pitch this year, so I am not that optimistic about him finding success with MN
Jim Price? Is that you?
I believe it reflects disorganization on the Tigers. You would think a #1 draft would be a priority. Beau is the exact definition of the “diamond in the rough” Al Avila is supposedly looking for. How could Burrows not have secondaries? I always thought he was pretty good.
I don’t know about you but when I spend a couple M on something, I expect it to function…no matter what!
This is 100% pure speculation….
Many times, when a top rated prospect doesn’t pan out (in any sport), there are factors invisible to the TV camera going on. Could be a disappearing work ethic once they land a contract. Could even be alcohol or substance abuse. To that point, I give you the sad stories of the NFL’s Charles Rogers and Ryan Leaf.
To me, a guy that vomits on the mound and is cut the very next day, despite being a former 1st rounder and having just been promoted…. it just makes me wonder if there is more to the story.
I repeat…when I pay 2+M$ for something, I expect it to function.
No matter what.
the guy looks like a bust and if he turns out then good on him but i wouldn’t bet on it.
In my MLB the show franchise I have him as my closer in AA and he is lights out….not the same I know but why not give him a shot in the pen….
So this is a little off topic, but when the article mentioned his struggles to establish an effective second pitch, it got me thinking. Why don’t pitchers utilize the split finger fastball anymore? Was it just a fad in the late 80’s? Just wondering if anyone had any insight on this.
It’s making a bit of a comeback. There’s a baseball academy that teaches it. Tarik Skubal learned it in the off-season and added it to his arsenal. Casey Mize throws it.
It’s Driveline Baseball in Kent, WA.
Levine seen this morning driving a Twins pickup truck around the twin cities and approaching groups of day laborers. “Any of you guys ever pitched before?” A couple guys nod. Levine, “Hop in.”
Hope the Tigers are reminded of the uncertainly in drafting HS pitchers. Seriously, please pass on the HS pitchers next week!