Pirates A to Z: On cusp of making the majors, Mike Burrows set back by Tommy John surgery

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster.

Player: Mike Burrows

Position: Pitcher

Throws: Right

Age: 24

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 195 pounds

2022 MLB statistics: None.

Contract: Not yet eligible for arbitration.

Acquired: Selected in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft.

This past season: After pitching in the 2022 Futures Game and advancing to Triple A, Burrows was shut down that September with shoulder inflammation.

Instead of dwelling on what could have been, the Pirates’ No. 8 prospect per MLB Pipeline focused on the future. He was more concerned with being healthy for 2023 than getting a cameo in the majors.

“Next year’s going to be a big year for myself and for this organization. I want to be a part of it,” Burrows said. “I don’t want to put myself in a position where I won’t be a part of that. That was in my head when that all happened.”

Burrows was 4-2 with a 2.94 ERA and 1.096 WHIP in 12 starts at Double-A Altoona, then posted a 1-4 record with a 5.31 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 12 appearances at Indianapolis.

With a fastball that touched 97 mph complementing his bread-and-butter curveball, Burrows added a slider for a three-pitch combination, getting a feel for the grip and working to land the location as a backdoor pitch with swing-and-miss potential against right-handed hitters.

“I have three pitches that have done really, really well for me, but I knew that adding that slider would add another look for righty purposes or even lefty purposes,” Burrows said. “I think having four pitches will be tremendously helpful, as far as being a starter goes. It’s going to help me get deeper into games, help me with matchups in certain situations.”

Burrows’ confidence was boosted by his addition to the 40-man roster in November 2022, and he made a solid impression in spring training by allowing two earned runs in five innings over three Grapefruit League appearances. But Burrows was destined to start the season anchoring what was expected to be a strong rotation in Indianapolis.

When JT Brubaker suffered an ulnar collateral ligament tear in late March and required Tommy John surgery, Johan Oviedo took his spot in the starting rotation. That made Burrows next in line for a promotion, as he was ahead of fellow prospect Quinn Priester.

On April 8, in the second inning of his second start, Burrows left the game with an injury that would require Tommy John surgery. The procedure was performed by Dr. Keith Meister, who also operated on Brubaker’s right elbow. Like Brubaker, Burrows was expected to miss 14-16 months.

“It hurts from a personal standpoint,” Indianapolis manager Miguel Perez told MLB.com. “Mike has grown so much in this game. He’s been a great teammate and a great human being, on and off the field.”

The future: Where Burrows was on the cusp of making his major league debut in September 2023, that timeline now looks closer to late 2024 or, more likely, the 2025 season.

Burrows, who turned 24 on Nov. 8, is still young and talented. And he has a reputation for being ultra competitive and sticking to a strict regimen, which should serve him well in his recovery.

Where Priester was a first-round pick and bonus baby, Burrows was an 11th-rounder in the same draft and grinded his way into becoming a top-10 prospect.

“His demeanor is always one of, I’m going to beat your (butt),” Priester said. “It’s just pretty impressive to watch. He goes about his work extremely confidently and is going to shove it up your butt. Every day, you know what you’re going to get. He’s a great teammate to have.

“Good or bad, Mike’s going to be the same guy. He’s very diligent and routine-oriented. Being able to see that, especially for me as someone who gets more relaxed and tries to change things a lot, Mike’s a guy from my perspective who’s very strict and trusting in his routine. When he goes on the mound, he’s just a competitor.”