Brian Burres

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #29 prospect in 2007
  Burres emerged in the Giants system in 2004 but followed with a mediocre year in Double- A, and when he was optioned off the 40-man after the 2005 season, the Orioles claimed him. He spent all of 2006 in Triple-A, leading Ottawa in wins and strikeouts, then made his major league debut in September. His fastball was a tick faster last season, sitting at 87-88 mph rather than the mid-80s, and it still showed good sink and movement. His slider and changeup were effective as well, and he showed better command and was more consistent from start to start. Because of his thin frame, Burres still doesn't have his best stuff in every outing, however. Burres isn't the kind of pitcher teams build a rotation around, but he has usable stuff and should be able to throw strikes in the big leagues. He'll probably go back to Triple- A and wait for an opening on the big league staff.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #22 prospect in 2005
  Nicknamed "the Blade" for his slender build, Burres emerged in his second high Class A season and could help the Giants address their lack of lefthanded pitching. He was on track to be a situational lefty, but struggled at the beginning of 2004. His curveball got too loopy, and his 84-89 mph fastball and decent changeup weren't enough for him to be effective. But once he got a chance to start in mid-June after Matt Cain's promotion to Double-A, Burres took to a new cut fastball he learned from San Jose pitching coach Trevor Wilson and suddenly became the team's ace. He won nine of his last 10 starts, including the last seven in a row, and went 12-0, 1.87 as a member of the rotation. His stunning success was the product of painting the outer half of the strike zone with his fastball and pounding hitters inside with his cutter. He ran out of gas in the California League playoffs, but he'll report to Double-A as a starter in 2005 and see if he can repeat his late-season magic.