Alex Burnett
| IP | 172 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.709 |
| WHIP | 1.453 |
| BB/9 | 3.767 |
| SO/9 | 5.651 |
- Full name Alex James Burnett
- Born 07/26/1987 in Anaheim, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Ocean View
- Debut 04/08/2010
- Drafted in the 12th round (375th overall) by the Minnesota Twins in 2005.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
After making solid progress through the low minors, Burnett hit a speed bump in 2008 and the Twins responded by shifting the smallish righthander to the bullpen. He responded with the best season of his pro career in 2009, earning a trip to the Arizona Fall League and a spot on the 40-man roster. Burnett had average fastball velocity and decent life as a starter, and he cranked his heater up coming out of the bullpen, sitting at 93-94 mph and reaching 95 consistently. He gets strikeouts by going up the ladder with his heater. Burnett still uses his average straight changeup out of the pen and has success with it against lefthandeders. They hit .150 off him during the 2009 regular season, then went 1-for-18 in the AFL. Burnett will become a big league bullpen factor when he improves his breaking ball command. He has thrown a hard, slurvy breaking ball, a true curveball with a bit less power and a big, slow curve in the past. He ditched the slow curve as a reliever and focused on the harder version, which is a strikeout pitch. Burnett's ability to retire lefthanders gives him a chance to be a future closer, but he must refine his fastball command and his breaking ball first. He's in line to close at New Britain in 2010 if Anthony Slama advances to Rochester, and Burnett's changeup could give him an edge over Slama in the long term. -
Minnesota's track record for developing pitchers is mixed of late. The Twins have preferred taller, big-bodied righthanders such as Nick Blackburn, since-traded Matt Garza and 2004 first-rounder Kyle Waldrop, though they've had more success with shorter, more athletic pitchers such as Jesse Crain and Kevin Slowey. Burnett fits into the latter category, and some club officials call him a poor man's Roy Oswalt. Burnett's fastball rivals any in the system because it jumps out of his hand and has good sinking life at 88-92 mph. He has shown more velocity in the past, touching 94-95 in high school. He complements his fastball with a curveball that gives him a second strikeout pitch. Besides his size, the Oswalt comparison also stems from his ability to change speeds on his breaking ball, using it as either a power pitch or as a changeup when he throws a slower version. He also has an average true changeup, and his feel for changing speeds helped him dominate lefthanded hitters (.525 OPS) in 2007. He's prone to missing up in the strike zone with his fastball, which at times is pretty straight. Burnett profiles as a No. 4 starter down the line and will continue his climb this season in high Class A. -
Burnett played his high school baseball in one of the nation's tougher leagues in Orange County, and led Ocean View High to three straight conference titles as well as a California section title. He has moved slowly as a pro, with two seasons in Rookie ball. He teamed with Brian Kirwan to give Rookie-level Elizabethton a powerful 1-2 punch in its rotation, and both are prospects. While Burnett isn't as physical as Kirwan, he's athletic, has good stuff and is poised to break out in 2007. His fastball sits at 92 mph and touches 94, and he has the athletic ability to repeat his delivery, maintain his stuff and keep his fastball down. He isn't afraid to elevate it, though, and then plays off it with a 72-76 mph downer curveball. His changeup is in the early stages of development. One club official, clearly excited by Burnett's package, said he has some Roy Oswalt in him, but others see him becoming a short reliever. He will head to low Class A to start 2007.
Minor League Top Prospects
-
The Twins found another promising California high school pitcher one round after Kirwan in the 2005 draft. Burnett isn't as imposing physically at 6 feet and 190 pounds, but he ranked among the league leaders in innings (71) and strikeouts (71). He may not be big, but Burnett works from 89-92 mph with his fastball. He also throws a sharp slider with depth, as well as an improving changeup. Though he tired in August, he showed maturity and tremendous mound presence as Elizabethton's ace.
