Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Breakout Candidates for 2020

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DETROIT, MI – APRIL 17: Nick Burdi #57 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 17, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 17: Nick Burdi #57 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 17, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Reliever Nick Burdi

At the MLB Winter Meetings in December of 2018, the Philadelphia Phillies selected reliever Nick Burdi from the Minnesota Twins. The Phillies then traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for international free agency money.

After turning heads in Spring Training 2019, Burdi appeared to be well on his way to breaking out for the Pirates in 2019. Well, injuries had other ideas. A nerve issue that required surgery limited Burdi  to just 8.2 innings in 2019. In these 8.2 innings, however, he did strikeout 17 batters.

Prior to the suspension of play, Burdi looked healthy as can be this spring. He had allowed a run on a solo home run, a walk, and eight strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work. His fastball topped 100 MPH on multiple occasion and his slider looked as wicked as ever.

Next. What will the Pirates do with Neverauskas?. dark

While some of this is in flux depending on if/when the 2020 season starts, current closer Keone Kela is slated to hit free agency following the season. Due to this, odds are, the Pirates will look to trade him whenever the trade deadline rolls around. If Burdi is healthy and pitching to his potential, it would not be a surprise to see him be the front runner to replace Kela as the team’s closer.