Nick Burdi

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #25 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Pirates acquired Burdi from the Phillies after the 2017 Rule 5 draft knowing he would miss most of 2018 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Burdi returned at the end of the season and opened 2019 in the Pirates bullpen, but in April he went down clutching his right biceps after a pitch. Burdi had thoracic outlet surgery and missed the rest of the year.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Burdi brings a power arsenal in relief befitting a closer. His fastball sits 96-97 mph and has reached triple-digits, and he backs it up with a devastating hard slider in the 87-90 mph range. Burdi's command is imprecise and he occasionally leaves pitches over the plate, but his stuff is good enough to miss bats even when he makes mistakes. He struck out 42.5 percent of the batters he faced in his brief time in the majors last season, and that was with him still rounding into form.
  
  THE FUTURE: Burdi will be under Rule 5 roster restrictions for the third straight year in 2020. Few pitchers successfully return from thoracic outlet surgery, but Burdi will try to beat the odds.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #25 prospect in 2018
  Burdi was drafted in the 24th round by the Twins after a stellar Illinois prep career, then was taken again by Minnesota with the 46th overall pick in 2014 after a dominant career as Louisville's closer. The Pirates acquired the rights to Burdi at the 2017 Rule 5 draft by trading $500,000 in international bonus pool money to the Phillies, who had selected the reliever third overall. The Twins left him unprotected in the Rule 5 draft, possibly because he has pitched just 20 innings in the past two seasons and faces a long rehab. Thanks to a fastball that sits in the upper 90s and can touch 100 mph--as well as a devastating slider in the 87-90 mph range and a decent changeup--Burdi continued to post high strikeout rates during his time with the Twins. He averaged more than 11.0 strikeouts per nine innings in each of his first two seasons. He missed most of the 2016 season with a bruised right humerus, however, pitching just three innings. In 2017, he drastically improved his control at Double-A Chattanooga by walking just four batters in 17 innings while striking out 20 and allowing only one run, but he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and needed Tommy John surgery in May. Burdi will begin the season on the disabled list and likely won't be available until the second half. However, if he can return to form, the Pirates hope he can become a go-to high-leverage reliever.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #15 prospect in 2017
  The Twins liked Burdi so much they drafted him twice. The Illinois prep passed on pro ball as a 24th-round pick in 2011 before coming to terms as the 46th overall pick out of Louisville in 2014. On the cusp of breaking through to the big leagues in 2016, Burdi began the year at Double-A Chattanooga but pitched in just three games before a bone bruise on his right humerus sent him to the disabled list and ended his season. He touched triple digits in college, where his younger brother Zack Burdi--drafted 26th overall by the White Sox in 2016--succeeded him as Louisville's closer. When healthy, Nick complements his upper-90s fastball with a wipeout 87-90 mph slider and an occasional firm changeup. His control needs improvement--he walked 6.6 per nine innings in 2015 at Chattanooga--but when he throws strikes, Burdi's stuff gives him the chance to be a late-inning reliever. In the Twins' plans in 2016 before his injury, he now probably requires more minor league seasoning after his lost season. Both Burdi and his younger brother could pitch in American League Central bullpens in 2017.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #10 prospect in 2016
  Drafted for a second time by the Twins, Burdi signed for $1.22 million as the 46th overall pick after reaching the College World Series. He famously hit 103 mph on the gun in the Cape Cod League. After being pushed to Double-A in his first full season, Burdi got bounced back a level in early July after posting a 5.93 earned run average over his first 22 outings (30/3 innings). He spent six weeks at high Class A Fort Myers with pitching coach Ivan Arteaga, who worked with him the previous summer at low Class A Cedar Rapids, then returned to finish strong. Burdi posted a 1.77 ERA in 13 outings (20 1/3 innings), including five in the postseason run to the Southern League title. After his rocky first half, Burdi made a concerted effort with Arteaga to smooth out his delivery, which gets into max-effort territory at times. Even with a high-90s fastball, Burdi tends to fall behind in the count when fastball command eludes him. Getting ahead sets up his devastating slider at 87-90 mph, which he also has learned to throw with more of a slurvy action for early strikes. He incorporated a two-seamer more down the stretch and at the Arizona Fall League, getting weak early contact on the ground, and also forced himself to polish his 86-87 mph changeup. He continues to work on holding runners and fielding his position. Burdi didn't give up a run in Arizona until allowing a solo homer while closing out the championship game for Scottsdale. Back on the fast track after that first-half hiccup, he could debut at Target Field early in 2016 as the Twins seek to increase the whiff rate of their bullpen.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #7 prospect in 2015
  After taking a 24th-round flier on Burdi out of high school in 2011, the Twins grabbed him in the second round (46th overall) after an All-America career as a closer at Louisville. Signed for $1.22 million after reaching the College World Series, Burdi made it clear he hoped to reach the majors as soon as possible, then suffered through a four-walk, no-out nightmare in his pro debut at low Class A Cedar Rapids before righting the ship. Burdi famously hit 103 mph in the Cape Cod League, owning a powerful right arm that he hones with an unconventional program of super-long toss. With an 80 fastball on the 20-80 scouting scale, Burdi's low-end velocity as a reliever is still 95-98 mph. His devastating 87-90 mph slider shows good tilt and slice. Burdi works on a changeup on the side, but so far has had no occasion to bring it into games. He stays in his max-effort delivery well, but Fort Myers pitching coach Gary Lucas had to monitor Burdi for those times when his elbow would drop or his hand would get on the side of the ball. After fanning 46 in his final 25 innings in 2014, Burdi put himself on the fast track. Considering his confident demeanor and college closing background, the Twins will let his success dictate how quickly he moves through the system. If he stays in relief, he could start at Double-A.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #36 prospect in 2014 draft
  Burdi ranks as the hardest thrower in college baseball, making him a first-round candidate despite being limited to a relief role. Drafted in the 24th round by the Twins out of high school in 2011, Burdi has pitched out of Louisville's bullpen for three years, becoming the Cardinals' all-time saves leader. He does it with pure power. He's athletic with tremendous arm strength and runs his fastball into the 96-100 mph range consistently, maintaining that velocity over two- and three-inning outings. He has reached up to 103, and his fastball earns 80 grades from most scouts on the 20-80 scale. Burdi's slider gives him a second premium pitch, reaching as high as 92-93 mph and sitting 87-90 with depth. One area scout called it "hard, late and unfair." Scouts don't consider his delivery and mentality suited for starting. He has learned to repeat his delivery better and should have enough control to close, and he could reach the major leagues in short order.

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Pirates acquired Burdi from the Phillies after the 2017 Rule 5 draft knowing he would miss most of 2018 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Burdi returned at the end of the season and opened 2019 in the Pirates bullpen, but in April he went down clutching his right biceps after a pitch. Burdi had thoracic outlet surgery and missed the rest of the year.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Burdi brings a power arsenal in relief befitting a closer. His fastball sits 96-97 mph and has reached triple-digits, and he backs it up with a devastating hard slider in the 87-90 mph range. Burdi’s command is imprecise and he occasionally leaves pitches over the plate, but his stuff is good enough to miss bats even when he makes mistakes. He struck out 42.5 percent of the batters he faced in his brief time in the majors last season, and that was with him still rounding into form.
  
  THE FUTURE: Burdi will be under Rule 5 roster restrictions for the third straight year in 2020. Few pitchers successfully return from thoracic outlet surgery, but Burdi will try to beat the odds.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Pirates acquired Burdi from the Phillies after the 2017 Rule 5 draft knowing he would miss most of 2018 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Burdi returned at the end of the season and opened 2019 in the Pirates bullpen, but in April he went down clutching his right biceps after a pitch. Burdi had thoracic outlet surgery and missed the rest of the year.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Burdi brings a power arsenal in relief befitting a closer. His fastball sits 96-97 mph and has reached triple-digits, and he backs it up with a devastating hard slider in the 87-90 mph range. Burdi's command is imprecise and he occasionally leaves pitches over the plate, but his stuff is good enough to miss bats even when he makes mistakes. He struck out 42.5 percent of the batters he faced in his brief time in the majors last season, and that was with him still rounding into form.
  
  THE FUTURE: Burdi will be under Rule 5 roster restrictions for the third straight year in 2020. Few pitchers successfully return from thoracic outlet surgery, but Burdi will try to beat the odds.