Downers Grove native Zack Burdi gets first major league call
via Sean Williams
Zack Burdi was called up to the major leagues by the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. The youth movement continues on the South Side with another high upside relief pitching prospect finally earning his shot at big league action. The 25-year-old right-hander will join fellow 2016 draftees Matt Foster and Ian Hamilton in the bullpen. He will wear uniform #62.
The White Sox selected Burdi with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 draft out of Louisville. After using the 10th pick on catcher Zack Collins, Burdi was selected with a pick that was awarded to the White Sox when Jeff Samardzija left in free agency. Despite appearing to be a fast moving college arm, the selection was panned by many because it was unlikely that Burdi would be able to become a starting pitcher during his career.
Zack Burdi was the No. 41 overall prospect in the 2016 draft according to MLB Pipeline. He was considered to be the best relief prospect in the class, but his clean delivery indicated to some that starting could be a potential option down the road. The White Sox deployed him in high leverage relief roles almost immediately and he finished the season in Triple-A Charlotte with a 2.25 ERA.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder returned to Triple-A in 2017 where he posted a 4.05 ERA and 2.86 FIP over the course of 33 innings. The Downers Grove product averaged 13.7 K/9, but walks were an issue as he averaged 4.59 BB/9 as well. Burdi was on track to make his major league debut later that summer, but injuries soon would derail his promising start. The reliever underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2017 and he returned to throw just over six innings with the AZL White Sox to close out the 2018 campaign.
This was Burdi after he signed with the White Sox. Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs gushed over the stuff displayed in this video. He’s likely not this guy anymore but it’s pretty evident what the organization saw back in 2016.
In 2019, Burdi threw 19.2 innings with the Birmingham Barons in Double-A. He was primarily working on developing his changeup and getting back healthy while awaiting the return of his once electric repertoire. He posted a 6.41 ERA with a 4.40 xFIP and averaged nearly 11 K/9. The injury bug struck Burdi again however as he missed the rest of the 2019 season after undergoing knee surgery.
We ranked Zack Burdi as the No. 18 prospect in the White Sox system on our preseason top 30 list. MLB Pipeline ranked Burdi as the 19th overall prospect in the system in their most recent update. Pipeline still rates Burdi’s fastball as an 80 pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale and the publication notes that carries “armside life.”
Zack’s 60-grade slider used to possess depth in the low 90 mph range and he also has a changeup that has flashed plus with tumble and run. Burdi sometimes loses direction toward the plate and struggles with command. He’ll need some changeup development to consistently put away lefties at the big league level, but he’s apparently earned that chance. Director of player development Chris Getz has been in Schaumburg overseeing the activities of Burdi and he’s the next man up for the White Sox.
On a June 7 episode of the FutureSox Podcast, Burdi told our Clinton Cole about his performance in spring training back in March.
“I felt really positive about my four outings in spring training,” Burdi said.
The former Louisville closer was just happy to back in his routine and was enjoying his time with the other players in the clubhouse.
“A huge part of the rehab process is the removal from everything,” Burdi said. “Getting back with the guys was a good thing.”
Prior to being assigned to Schaumburg, Burdi was working out at his parents home in suburban Downers Grove and he was trying to maintain what he was already doing.
During baseball’s restart, Burdi joined the alternate site roster instead of participating in big league camp in Chicago despite being a member of the club’s 40-man roster. There was a reason for that, as Burdi was under the watchful eyes of Getz, director of pitching Everett Teaford and Triple-A Charlotte pitching coach Matt Zaleski in Schaumburg. Burdi’s call has arrived and he’ll be welcomed to the show and likely thrown into the mix in short order.
“The main goal was to throw and throw efficiently,” Burdi said in regards to his journey back to the mound this year.
He’s hoping to do that for many years on the South Side of Chicago. The entire organization would benefit from further contributions from a 2016 draft class loaded with big leaguers.
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