The Pirates introduced that right-hander Mike Burrows was known as as much as the energetic roster, whereas Jared Jones was optioned to the crew’s Florida Complicated League affiliate. Jones’ demotion is solely an on-paper transfer, as he made his final begin of the 2024 season yesterday and has already amassed a full season of MLB service time in his rookie yr.
Burrows was already on Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster, and the 24-year-old now figures to make his huge league debut in one of many Pirates’ two remaining video games. An Eleventh-round decide within the 2018 draft, Burrows was making regular progress up the minor league ladder earlier than a Tommy John surgical procedure derailed his profession in April 2023.
Beginning a rehab project in June of this yr, Burrows has a 5.26 ERA over 51 1/3 innings cut up throughout three minor league ranges. Essentially the most related set of numbers are his 4.06 ERA, 26.6% strikeout price, and eight.9% stroll price in 37 2/3 innings on the Triple-A degree, with Burrows beginning 9 of his 10 video games for Indianapolis. Burrows has solely twice made it into the fifth inning in any of his outings for the reason that Pirates have been limiting his workload, however he tossed 91 pitches in his final Triple-A begin on September 22.
An look at this time or Sunday will formally make Burrows a Main League participant, attaining one huge milestone in his professional profession. Heading into 2025, the Pirates have Jones, Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, and Bailey Falter lined up as the highest 4 members of the rotation, leaving Burrows as considered one of a number of candidates battling for the fifth starter’s job or (maybe extra realistically) as a depth starter in Triple-A or as a swingman within the huge league bullpen. Offseason signings or trades might additional shake up the equation, just like the commerce deadline transfer that noticed the Pirates swap righty Quinn Priester to the Pink Sox for infielder Nick Yorke.
