Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects Most Likely to Be Protected From Rule 5 Draft

Starting pitcher Mike Burrows

The 2022 season was a big one for Pirate pitching prospect Mike Burrows. Entering the season he was one of the team’s top prospects, but there were questions if his future would be as a relief pitcher or as a starting pitcher.

Burrows needed to add a third pitch to make sure his future would be as a starter. Burrows not only added a third pitch, but the changeup he would add went on to become a plus pitch for Burrows.

After making 12 starts for Double-A Altoona, Burrows would be promoted to the Triple-A level. Burrows went on to pitch in 12 games, 10 starts, for the Indianapolis Indians. Putting himself on the doorstep of the major leagues.

Across the two levels Burrows posted a 4.01 ERA in 94.1 innings pitched. His 3.29 FIP painted a prettier picture than his ERA, an ERA that was hurt by one disastrous outing at Triple-A. With just 94.1 innings pitched, it made it more difficult to bring that ERA down.

Burrows is a spin rate expert with three plus pitches. He walked just 7.9% of batters faced last season while striking out a healthy 28.2%. He allowed home runs at just a 0.76 HR/9 rate while limiting opposing batters to a .231 batting average.

Adding Burrows to the 40-man roster will be a no brainer move. By mid-summer, he should be entrenched in the starting rotation of the Pittsburgh Pirates. If he were to be left unprotected, he would be the most highly sought after pitcher in the Rule 5 Draft.