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Josh Burris
Joshua D. Burris was born in Baton Rouge, LA on November 28, 1991 and was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 17th round (538th overall) of last years Amateur (Rule 4) Draft. This is his first season in professional baseball, since he singed late, on the deadline (August 15th, also know in these parts as the day the Twins traded Delmon Young to the Tigers) and has not yet played any official professional games. Currently he is in Fort Myers for Extended Spring Training and will probably be assigned to one of the 2 rookie league teams, likely the Elizabethton Twins (Appalachian League.) You will not find a fangraphs page for Josh Burris. Baseball Cube, MLB.com, and Baseball Reference have only Biographic information and this is somewhat incomplete and innacurate.
Josh started playing baseball very young. His father (on this committment day to LSU) claimed that he was playing since he was 3. I am not certain about this, but Josh played baseball from ages 9 to 15 in the Scotlandville Sports Academy, "a community organization determined to enhance the lives of at risk youth in the Baton Rouge community through structured athletics and educational activities".
He later attended the Scottlandville Magnet High School in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA, where he was an outfielder and pitcher. At his senior year, he was listed as 5'10" and 165 lbs, and during High School he was batting and throwing right handed. In the summer of 2009 he was joining the curcuit of top prospects at the National Showcase, who were recruited either by pro or college teams. Here is a hitting and pitching video of Burris from the Showcase (about 3 years ago.) Scouted and touted as "one of the liveliest arms in Louisiana", later that year, on November 18, 2009, Josh signed his letter of intent to go to Louisiana State University, on his High School Auditorium among his family and friends.
In his Senior season at High School Josh was the East MVP in the High School All Star two-game Series, when he pitched three scoreless innings in the first game and went a combined 2 for 4 at the plate with a run scored in both games. He was also named in the 2010 LA All League First Team. A note of interest: The only other player from Josh's High School who played professional baseball, is RHP Michael Taylor who was drafted by the Cubs in 1975 and played 2 seasons in their Florida State League (High A) team.
For sore reason, Josh did not enroll at Louisiana State, instead he enrolled at the NJCAA Louisiana State University - Eunice for the 2010 and 2011 season. LSU-E, is one of the biggest baseball powerhouses in the Junior College circuit, being crowned National Champions 3 times the last 6 seasons and always competing. Burris played both in the Fall and Spring Seasons. He wore uniform #6 during the Fall and uniform # 3 during the Spring. A two-way player, OF and relief pitcher, he hit .273/.432/.364 in 55 AB (started 19 games) with 15 hits, 1 triple, 1 home run, scored 21 runs and drove in 7, while walking 17 times and striking out 11. He led the conference in stolen bases with 13 in 16 attempts. His Fielding percentage was .292. As a pitcher, in 13 games he recorded a save pitching 21.3 allowing 14 Hits, 12 Runs (11 Earned), 20 Bases on Balls, while striking out 32, limiting opposing hitters to a .203 BAA, and recording 3 WP, 3 HBP and 1 BK. During his Freshman (and only) season in College, he platooned at the OF (still hitting RH) and was used in long relief/closer role. He struggled early in the year with command. But, has been extremely dominant in his last few outings. His fastball averages 93/94, and his excellent curveball was his main weapon. He was also named in the 2011 Louisiana All State Team
After the College Season ended, Josh Burris signed with the Acadiana Cane Cutters (Lafayette, LA) of the Texas Collegiate Summer League. There he was also a 2-way player, but primarily a pitcher. He was listed as 5'11", 195 lbs at that point. He pitched in 9 Games (10.3 IP) recording 5 Saves, accumulated a 7.84 ERA, allowing 6 BB and striking out 14. His WHIP was 2.400 and the opponents' batting average was .367 BAA. All of the runs scored in 4 games, and he was near perfect in the last 5 games he pitched. As a batter he started switch-hitting in the summer league. In addition to OF he played some second base also, as he did during College. He hit .261/.358/.296 in 39 games (115 AB) scoring 16 runs and driving in 11 while walked 16 times was hit by a pitch 2 and struck out 27. He stole 23 of 27 bases and his fielding percentage was .946. He wore Uniform number 2 and he was named the 4th best prospect in the Texas Collegiate League by Baseball America.
Drafted and signed late by the Twins, Burris will focus on pitching. Will probably start the season in Elizabethton's bullpen and work to develop an off-spead pitch to go with his lively fastball and excellent curve. I had an opportunity to see him pitch this Spring Training at Fort Myers and it was a delight. Also he looks taller than last season's 5'11". I would say that he is probably 6'1" and close to 190 lbs. Excellent raw stuff, but had issues with command. Once that his harnessed he has a very high upside and could be one of the surprises in the organization. Anecdotally, I was watching an intersquad game between the Twins AAA/AA groups while Anthony Slama was pitching for the AAA squad and the sound of the ball hitting the catchers mitt at the field behind me made me turn and look and I moved away to watch Burris pitch. He was that good.
You can follow Josh Burris on twitter @CurlyCurveball (appropriate handle) and he has a MySpace page, you can find here (with some HS prom pictures)
I will update as soon as news happen.
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I am glad you posted this after I posted mine . . .
That's pretty hard to follow. Great stuff and he will be someone to watch indeed.
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Could be nothing, because Beloit has a full roster, but could be something: Josh Burris tweeted late last night that he is on his way to Beloit for Baseball.
We shall see. Could be where he is heading after the draft when the rookie leagues start.
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False alarm, at least as far as going to Beloit any time soon goes. Burris is starting an Extended Sprint Training game this morning.
He posted this picture (pretty large) through his tweeter. Looks like he is working on a two-seamer, a pitcher he did not throw before.
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Josh will start his Twins career with the Elizabethton Twins of the Appalachian League.
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Tonight was Josh Burris' first professional appearance with the Elizabethton Twins against the Danville Braves, at Danville, VA.
He pitched a perfect inning against the Braves' 1-2-3 hitters and struck out a batter (Levi Hyams, the Braves' 19th round pick in 2012). His other 2 outs were a flyout to LF (Casey Kalenkosky, the Braves' 30th round pick in 2012) and a ground out, SS to 1B (Trenton Moses, the Braves' 26th Round pick in 2012). Josh came in relief of Corey Kimes who lasted 4 innings.
He came back for the 6th inning and it was another perfect inning with another strike out, facing the heart of the Braves' lineup. 4th place hitter Edison Sanchez (one of the big Latin American signings of Atlanta in 2007 from Venezuela) struck out, 5th place hitter Aris Alcantara (Dominican, another 2007 Braves' signee) grounded out second to first and 6th spot hitter Felix Marte (Dominican, yet another 2007 Braves' signee) grounded out 3B (Niko Goodrum tonight there btw) to 1B.
So Burris took care of the 2012 Draft picks in his first inning and the 2007 international free agent signees in his second inning.
He came back for his 3rd inning in the 7th and he repeated his 6th inning performance: A strikeout (Logan Robins, Altlanta's 2011 10th round pick) and 2 ground outs (Nick DeSantiago, Atlanta's 2011 5th round pick, and Eric Garcia, Altlanta's 2012 20th round pick.)
That was his day: 3 perfect IP with 3Ks (5 GO to 1 AO) and because the Twins scored 6 runs, while he was pitching, Josh got his first professional win as well.
Very common in the Rookie leagues to have 2 "starters" on each game pitching 3-4 innings each one after another, and I know that there were considerations to have Josh Burris start. We'll see how the season develops, but this was a heck of a pro debut.
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Josh pitched tonight at Burlington, NC against the Royals. He came in the sixth inning in relief of Hudson Boyd with a runner on third and no outs. He gave a single to 24 year old Cameron Conner (the Royals' 20th round pick in 2010) which scored the runner. The next hitter, also 24 years old, Jose Rodriguez (the Royals'27th round pick in 2010) walked. Terrance Gore (Royals' 20th round pick in 2011) struck out and Kenny Diekroeger (the Royals' 4th round pick in 2012) grounded out to second. That hit was the first hit surrended in Josh's pro career.
He came in for the seventh and got 23 year old Chris Elder (undrafted free agent, signed in 2011) to pop out to 3B. The next batter, Patrick Leonard (the Royal's 5th round pick in 2011) got his 4th homer of the season to LF. Next batter, Mark Threlkeld (Royals' 25th round pick in 2011) reached on a two base throwing error by 3B Travis Harrison. Josh hit the next batter, Beau Maggi (Royals' 24th round pick in 2012) to set up the double play. Then he got the next batter, Henry Moreno (Royals' international free agent signee in 2007 from the Dominican) to ground into a force out, 3B to 2B moving up the other runners Mark Threlkeld to 3rd. Then he struck out Cameron Conner to end the inning. This was the first HR surrended and the first earned run of Josh's pro career.
In the 8th, he got Jose Rodriguez to line out to third. Terrance Gore bunted for a single to 3B and Josh, rightfully, picked him off 1B. He struck out the next batter Kenny Diekroeger. All in all a great inning.
Final line: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 PO. 6 K and 1 BB in 5.2 IP total and a season 1.59 ERA and WHIP around 0.8xx. So far a very encouraging start to his career.
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Josh pitched tonight at Elizabethton against the Pulaski Mariners He came in the fifth inning in relief of Taylor Rogers. He got Reginald Lawson (undrafted FA signed by Mariners in 2011) to fly out to center, struck out Jabari Henry (Mariners' 18th round pick in 2012) and allowed a single to center to Bryan Brito (Foreign -Dominican- FA signed by Mariners in 2010). He got the next batter, Brock Hebert(Mariners' 14th round pick in 2012), to fly out to right.
He came back for the sixth inning and struck out James Zamarripa (Mariners' 6th round pick in 2011,) got Jordy Lara (Foreign -Dominican- FA signed by Mariners in 2009) to ground out to SS and Tyler Marlette (Mariners' 5th round pick in 2011) to ground out to 3B.
Came in again for the seventh and struck out Dario Pizzano (Mariners' 15th round pick in 2012) and got Martin Peguero (Foreign -Dominican- FA signed by Mariners in 2010) to ground out to SS. The next batter, Reginald Lawson, doubled on a line drive to RF. Jabari Henry grounded out 1B to P to end the inning.
Total 3 IP, 2 H, O R, 3 K. Total for the season: 8.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K and 1.04 ERA.
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Josh pitched tonight at Princeton (West Virginia) against the Rays. He came in the fourth inning in relief of Angel Mata with the Twins leading 6-1 and the Rays having runners on first and second with 2 outs. He got Brandon Martin to ground into a force out to end the inning.
In the 5 inning, got Julian Morillo to fly out to the left. Reid Redmand and Bill Argo walked. Darryl George struck out and Oscard Hernandez grounded out P to 1B to end the inning.
In the 6th, he got John Alexanger to ground out to second and struck out Ariel Soriano and James Harris for a quick 1-2-3 inning.
Total for the evening: 2.1 hittless IP with 2 BB and 3 K. ERA dropped to 0.82 for the season and now Josh has 12 K in 11 IP for the season.
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This probably isn't the place to post this, but I don't care. Twins have a very interesting stable of young arms.
Mata, Malinowski, Boyd, Lo, Malinowski, Higginbotham and now Berrios. That group makes Burris at 21 look like an old man! And Gallant is another one who is older but he has his TJ out of the way so in Twins Prospect terms he is on the fast track.
Maybe all fans get too excited about low minor young arms…but man one or two of these guys have to emerge as real prospects…Right?
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Josh pitched innings 5 and 6 of the front end of a doubleheader against the Kingsport Mets today (the Elizabethton Twins won them both), allowing a single hit, a base on balls and striking out one. He got his 4th win of the year and dropped his season ERA to 0.69
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I could have used a little more info here, thrylos! Do you think he has A: added a third pitch, and B: this could mean an eventual move to being a starter?
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Been a while :)
I will let you know about A in March after I come back from ST and not sure about B any more. He has had 3 pitches. Not sure how much the change has improved.
