Jared Burton
| IP | 361 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.44 |
| WHIP | 1.238 |
| BB/9 | 3.391 |
| SO/9 | 7.604 |
- Full name Levi Jared Burton
- Born 06/02/1981 in Westminster, SC
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Western Carolina
- Debut 04/04/2007
-
Drafted in the 8th round (248th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2002.
View Draft Report
A late bloomer like Harvey, Burton had sporadic success in his first two years at Western Carolina. He got attention by excelling in outings against ACC powers Clemson, Florida State and Georgia Tech. Burton generally throws 90-91 mph and dials it up to 93-94 when used out of the bullpen. He has a strong frame at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, and batters have a tough time picking up his pitches delivered from a low three-quarters angle. He also throws strikes and has an effective, slurvy breaking ball.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
After seeing him in the Arizona Fall League in 2006, the Reds were thrilled to get the chance to pick up Burton in the major league Rule 5 draft. He may not be as big a coup as fellow Rule 5 pickup Josh Hamilton, but Burton also proved to be an outstanding addition. He walked all three batters he faced in his major league debut and missed time early in the season with back and hamstring problems. But once he settled down, he became Cincinnati's most reliable set-up man. Burton pairs a 93-96 mph fastball with a hard 86-89 mph slider. He has thrown a changeup in the past, but as a one-inning reliever he's most effective when he sticks with his power stuff. His command is still somewhat shaky, and he sometimes has trouble finding his release point. Nevertheless, Burton has the stuff and composure to continue to provide reliable relief.
