Devan Fink ‏@DevanFink Jul 3

 

Burdi's 104 MPH pitch tonight may have been second-fastest pitch ever. Aroldis Chapman hit 105.1 MPH in 2010.

White Sox prospect Zack Burdi hit 104 MPH tonight, his agent @jfurmaniak says. Was their first round pick this year out of Louisville.

Jesus.

I saw him at 102, and he's more often 98-101. I can't confirm 104, which came from his agent - I am skeptical, but wouldn't call it impossible.

 

Nice.. hope coop doesnt tell him to throw outside and 90mph to be efficient....

I posted this this weekend in one of the recaps in future sox. I find it hard to believe but not impossible.

Looks like they aren't going the "stretch him to be a starter" route.

Looks like they aren't going the "stretch him to be a starter" route.

Buehrle and Sale started out of the bullpen, this doesn't mean anything. They could start stretching him out next season.

Looks like they aren't going the "stretch him to be a starter" route.

 

The Sox historically don't push starting pitchers the season they draft them.

The Sox historically don't push starting pitchers the season they draft them.

Well, this has been kinda different recently, at least for the first round picks. Fulmer started all 9 games he appeared in after being drafted in 2015, Rodon had 9 appearances and 6 starts in 2014. They kept some of those guys on innings limits, but they were still starting. Sale of course went straight to the pen...because they were planning to call him up immediately to work from the pen (possibly as part of his signing agreement).

Well, this has been kinda different recently, at least for the first round picks. Fulmer started all 9 games he appeared in after being drafted in 2015, Rodon had 9 appearances and 6 starts in 2014. They kept some of those guys on innings limits, but they were still starting. Sale of course went straight to the pen...because they were planning to call him up immediately to work from the pen (possibly as part of his signing agreement).

 

Fulmer's 9 starts? A total of 23 IP, or basically 2.5 innings per outing.

 

Rodon's 9 outings were for a total of 24.1 innings, or still short of 3 IP per outing.

 

I'd classify both of those as not being "pushed".

 

Now contrast that to Sale's 2010 which actually saw him throw 33.2 innings professionally after being drafted.

Fulmer's 9 starts? A total of 23 IP, or basically 2.5 innings per outing.

 

Rodon's 9 outings were for a total of 24.1 innings, or still short of 3 IP per outing.

 

I'd classify both of those as not being "pushed".

 

Now contrast that to Sale's 2010 which actually saw him throw 33.2 innings professionally after being drafted.

I was reading your words as meaning pushing guys to actually start games rather than having them come out of the bullpen. The big difference would be in the preparation - if they actually want the guys starting long term, they'll still have them start games so that they go through the routine of warming up as a starter and still get used to the every 5th day schedule even if they don't pile up the innings. The bullpen alternative doesn't give them the starter habit and it might not give them the every 5th day routine either.

Balta for the win.

 

Psychology of how you go about preparing for starts versus the mentality of coming in for a single inning out of the bullpen, completely different.

 

Not to mention the number of different pitches you're focusing on, with starters working on 3 or 4 pitches and relievers focusing on only one or more likely two.

I think it is hard to compare Burdi to Sale-Fulmer-Rodon because he came from college as a reliever, whereas the other three were starters. Stretching Burdi IMO is a different beast because he truly doesnt have the same kind of workload as they did

I think it is hard to compare Burdi to Sale-Fulmer-Rodon because he came from college as a reliever, whereas the other three were starters. Stretching Burdi IMO is a different beast because he truly doesnt have the same kind of workload as they did

Burdi is going to need an offseason to recover and then prepare if that's what they decide to do with him.

I think it is hard to compare Burdi to Sale-Fulmer-Rodon because he came from college as a reliever, whereas the other three were starters. Stretching Burdi IMO is a different beast because he truly doesnt have the same kind of workload as they did

 

 

Burdi is going to need an offseason to recover and then prepare if that's what they decide to do with him.

 

Yes and yes.

 

Congrats to @WhiteSox 1st-rounder Zack Burdi (@idrubkcaz15_U), who has earned a promotion to Double-A @BhamBarons! https://t.co/s80zqeyJB0

https://twitter.com/WSDashBaseball/status/750403961056813056

 

Also promoted today looks like

Definitely on the fast track we'll see how he does.

Definitely on the fast track we'll see how he does.

There definitely appears to be a plan.

White Sox have promoted 2016 draft pick Zack Burdi from high-A to AA. Only reason for fast track is big-league consideration this season.

https://twitter.com/philgrogers/status/750407119719903232

There definitely appears to be a plan.

If he struggles, I wouldn't rush him.

If he struggles, I wouldn't rush him.

I agree. He has to earn it, but it's obviously there for the taking.

Wouldn't be surprised if @idrubkcaz15_U jumps from Double-A to the White Sox IF they team decides he's ready and fits a need.

https://twitter.com/scottmerkin/status/750415104747958272

Wouldn't be surprised if @idrubkcaz15_U jumps from Double-A to the White Sox IF they team decides he's ready and fits a need.

https://twitter.com/scottmerkin/status/750415104747958272

Merkin going out on a limb. If he's ready and fills a need, he wouldn't be surprised he was called up. Wow.

There definitely appears to be a plan.

Yep, the Chris Sale plan to MLB bullpen in late July-early August.

I agree. He has to earn it, but it's obviously there for the taking.

He needs to earn it against an objective measurement...not against the back end of this bullpen. Charlotte is full of hard throwers..we don't want him to be one of those guys.

 

Sale was drafted to be a starter; they thought he'd be ready quickly, he was, so they eased him in via the pen. There was a time when some in the org. wanted him to stay there.

 

Burdi was drafted because they thought he'd be an impact reliever quickly. They might be able to turn him into a starter, but opinions vary. But he wasn't #26 value as a starting prospect.