Alex Burnett
Encyclopedia
Alex James Burnett is a right-handed relief pitcher
for the Minnesota Twins
. He is six feet tall and weighs 215 lbs., and was signed in the 12th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
.
All-Star Game while playing with the Twins' low A affiliate, the Beloit Snappers
. He ended the season with a 3.02 earned run average
, which was fifth best in the league.
Burnett compiled a 5 - 2 record with a 3.36 ERA over 14 appearances (12 starts) in the first half of the season—helping his team capture the Florida State League
first-half West Division title. Scout.com called him one of the best right-handed pitchers in the Twins' organization.
On August 21, 2008, in only six innings
, Burnett struck out a career best ten Lakeland Flying Tigers in the Miracle's 8-1 win at Joker Marchant Stadium
in Lakeland
. Burnett, Carlos Gutierrez
and Anthony Slama
combined on a new season-high 17 strikeouts on the night.
His best pitching performance of the season, however, may have been his last. With the Miracle already leading their first round play off series against the Dunedin Blue Jays
1-0, Burnett pitched six innings of shutout
ball, giving up only two hits against the second half division winners. The Miracle went on to win the game 3-1 to advance to the second round of the play offs for the first time since .
in , and combined to go 3-3 with a 1.85 ERA, thirteen saves and 78 strikeouts in 78 innings for Fort Myers and the Twins' double A affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats
. He made the Twins out of Spring training
without having ever played at the triple-A level. Burnett made his major league debut on April 8, 2010, retiring all three batters he faced in a 10-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
.
On April 15, 2010, the Twins sent Burnett to their triple-A
affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings
. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire
said the move was partly so Burnett could get more regular playing time. He was recalled to the Twins just two days later, when they placed reliever Jose Mijares
on the disabled list
. Burnett continued to pitch regularly for the Twins, and remained on the roster when Mijares was reactivated.
Burnett earned his first major league win on June 5, 2010, over the Oakland A's.
On July 19, the Twins optioned Burnett to Rochester and recalled pitcher Anthony Slama
. He remained in Rochester until he was recalled on September 3, earning a win in his first appearance back in the majors.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. He is six feet tall and weighs 215 lbs., and was signed in the 12th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft
2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
.
Minor league career
In , Burnett was selected to Midwest LeagueMidwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
All-Star Game while playing with the Twins' low A affiliate, the Beloit Snappers
Beloit Snappers
The Beloit Snappers are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Minnesota Twins, that plays in the Midwest League.Beloit joined the Midwest League as an expansion franchise in 1982. They were a Milwaukee Brewers farm team from its beginning through 2004; they switched to the...
. He ended the season with a 3.02 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
, which was fifth best in the league.
Burnett compiled a 5 - 2 record with a 3.36 ERA over 14 appearances (12 starts) in the first half of the season—helping his team capture the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
first-half West Division title. Scout.com called him one of the best right-handed pitchers in the Twins' organization.
On August 21, 2008, in only six innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
, Burnett struck out a career best ten Lakeland Flying Tigers in the Miracle's 8-1 win at Joker Marchant Stadium
Joker Marchant Stadium
Joker Marchant Stadium is a baseball field located in Lakeland, Florida. The stadium, opened in 1966, was renovated in 2002, holds 8,500 people, and was named after local resident and former Parks and Recreation Director, Joker Marchant...
in Lakeland
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
. Burnett, Carlos Gutierrez
Carlos Gutierrez (baseball)
Carlos Rafael Gutiérrez is a Puerto Rican-American minor league pitcher in the Minnesota Twins' organization. The 6'3" tall, 205 lbs. right-hander was selected by the Twins in the first round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft...
and Anthony Slama
Anthony Slama
Anthony Thomas Slama is a relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. He is 6'3", and weighs 207 lbs., and bats and throws right-handed....
combined on a new season-high 17 strikeouts on the night.
His best pitching performance of the season, however, may have been his last. With the Miracle already leading their first round play off series against the Dunedin Blue Jays
Dunedin Blue Jays
The Dunedin Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team based in Dunedin, Florida. They play in the Florida State League, and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball club...
1-0, Burnett pitched six innings of shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
ball, giving up only two hits against the second half division winners. The Miracle went on to win the game 3-1 to advance to the second round of the play offs for the first time since .
MLB career
He was converted to a relieverRelief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in , and combined to go 3-3 with a 1.85 ERA, thirteen saves and 78 strikeouts in 78 innings for Fort Myers and the Twins' double A affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats
New Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.-History:...
. He made the Twins out of Spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
without having ever played at the triple-A level. Burnett made his major league debut on April 8, 2010, retiring all three batters he faced in a 10-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
.
On April 15, 2010, the Twins sent Burnett to their triple-A
AAA (baseball)
Triple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball in the United States and Mexico.-Purpose:Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues:...
affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire
Ron Gardenhire
Ronald Clyde "Gardy" Gardenhire is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and current manager of the Minnesota Twins.He is six feet tall and weighed 175 pounds during most of his baseball career....
said the move was partly so Burnett could get more regular playing time. He was recalled to the Twins just two days later, when they placed reliever Jose Mijares
Jose Mijares
José Manuel Mijares is a left-handed major league pitcher with the Minnesota Twins.-Baseball career:...
on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. Burnett continued to pitch regularly for the Twins, and remained on the roster when Mijares was reactivated.
Burnett earned his first major league win on June 5, 2010, over the Oakland A's.
On July 19, the Twins optioned Burnett to Rochester and recalled pitcher Anthony Slama
Anthony Slama
Anthony Thomas Slama is a relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. He is 6'3", and weighs 207 lbs., and bats and throws right-handed....
. He remained in Rochester until he was recalled on September 3, earning a win in his first appearance back in the majors.