Nick Burdi

Not to be confused with Nick Burd.
Nick Burdi
Minnesota Twins – No. 77
Pitcher
Born: (1993-01-19) January 19, 1993
Downers Grove, Illinois
Bats: Right Throws: Right

Nicholas Edward Burdi (born January 19, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization. He played college baseball for the Louisville Cardinals of the University of Louisville.

Career

Burdi attended Downers Grove South High School in Downers Grove, Illinois, where he played for the school's baseball team as a pitcher, and for the American football team as a quarterback. Before his senior year, Burdi quit the football team to focus on baseball. Burdi, as a child and teen also played for the Downers Grove Longshots.[1] He was able to throw his fastball as fast as 95 miles per hour (153 km/h) as a high school student.[2]

Burdi participated in the Area Code Games in the summer of 2010, attracting the attention of scouts, including Keith Law of ESPN.com. After his senior season, Burdi expected to be chosen between the third to fifth rounds of the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft.[2] However, he lasted in the draft until the 24th round, when he was selected by the Minnesota Twins, with the 748th overall pick.[3][4] No team was willing to offer Burdi the signing bonus that would convince him to sign, rather than attend college. He did not sign with the Twins.[4][5]

Burdi enrolled at the University of Louisville, to play college baseball for the Louisville Cardinals baseball team. By his sophomore year, Burdi could reach 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) with his fastball.[5] Pitching as the Cardinals' closer, Burdi has an 0.78 earned run average (ERA) and 61 strikeouts in  34 2⁄3 innings pitched through his sophomore year.[6] After his sophomore year, he joined the United States national collegiate baseball team.[3] As a junior, Burdi had a 0.49 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 37 innings.[7]

Burdi was considered a top prospect in the 2014 MLB Draft.[6] The Minnesota Twins selected Burdi in the second round, with the 46th overall selection of the draft.[8] He signed with the Twins on June 25, receiving a $1,218,800 signing bonus, and reported to the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Class A Midwest League.[7] He posted a 4.15 ERA in 13 innings, and the Twins promoted him to the Fort Myers Miracle of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League in August.[9] Burdi opened the 2015 season with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Class AA Southern League.[10] He struggled with a 5.93 ERA, and was demoted to Fort Myers in late June.[11][12] After spending six weeks with Fort Myers, the Twins promoted Burdi back to Chattanooga, where he finished the season with a 1.77 ERA in  20 1⁄3 innings. The Twins assigned him to the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League after the regular season.[13]

Personal life

Burdi's older brother, Drew, was an All-State quarterback who played football for Downers Grove South and Western Michigan.[4] His younger brother, Zack, is also a professional baseball pitcher who played college baseball at Louisville.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Demling, Jody (February 4, 2014). "Louisville Fireballer Burdi Made Right Turn To Mound". Baseball America. Retrieved February 4, 2014. (subscription required)
  2. 1 2 "Burdi excited for MLB draft | Suburban Life Media". Mysuburbanlife.com. June 1, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Downers Grove's Nick Burdi playing with the best for USA Baseball | Suburban Life Media". Mysuburbanlife.com. July 16, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 Sandrolini, Mike (June 13, 2011). "Minnesota Twins Draft Downers South Grad Nick Burdi – Sports". Darien, IL Patch. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Taylor, Kent. "Cards closer Nick Burdi hits 100 on radar gun – wave3.com-Louisville News, Weather & Sports". Wave3.com. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Lemire, Joe (June 10, 2013). "Early look at top five prospects for next year's MLB draft". SI.com. Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Twins sign second-round pick Burdi". Minnesota.twins.mlb.com. March 27, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  8. ↑ "U of L's Nick Burdi drafted by Minnesota Twins". Courier-journal.com. June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  9. ↑ http://blogs.twincities.com/twins/2014/08/11/twinsights-phil-hughes-beating-the-best-nick-burdi-promoted/
  10. ↑ Paschall, David (April 7, 2015). "Half of Twins' top 10 prospects opening with Chattanooga Lookouts". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Twinsights: Nick Burdi demoted, Zack Jones lands on DL at Double-A". TwinCities.com. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Twinsights: Mike Radcliff breaks down the problem with Nick Burdi". TwinCities.com. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  13. ↑ "» Twinsights: Pitching coaches help Nick Burdi get back on the fast track". TwinCities.com. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Zack the latest 100 mph-throwing Burdi". The Courier-Journal. May 27, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
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