Berardino: Nick Burdi Hits 99 MPH Four Times Yestersday

[East Coast Twin]

An encouraging note by Mike Berardino yesterday:

 

Twins reliever Nick Burdi hit 99 mph on the stadium gun four times while retiring the side in the eighth

 

 

http://www.twincities.com/2016/03/05/twins-hustle-means-everything-to-byung-ho-park/

 

 

[Riverbrian]

I loved reading those comments from Park.

 

If that's the case.. Park and I are going to get along fine.

 

On Burdi: The first time I saw him pitch was when he was with Louisville. The Twins had just drafted him and Louisville was on TV so I was eager to watch.

 

He was bringing it but his mechanics were a mess. His front foot was landing all over the place and he was falling off the mound toward the 1st base side consistently. Don't get me wrong... I was glad the Twins drafted him because he may have hit triple digits in the game but I knew that the Twins had some work to do.

 

I hadn't seen him pitch again until yesterday and his mechanics are much better. This shows me that he's coachable and I believe he'll be a bullpen star eventually.

 

He isn't ready yet though because he needs work on a secondary pitch. That slider was hanging every time. Unless he was having a bad day with it... The pros will put that in the seats.

 

When he masters an off speed pitch to go with that heat... He'll be a monster. I'm very excited.

[Halsey Hall]

Burdi was nasty yesterday. 99, 97, 99, and then 84, 83. It's almost not fair.

[dbminn]

I saw the same improvement in Burdi's mechanics in the Arizona Fall League. Throwing hard is fine, as far as it goes. A good pitcher hitting 99 with a decent slider... That's what we're looking for.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Has Berardino said anything about when Burdi hits Target Field?

[nicksaviking]

Has Berardino said anything about when Burdi hits Target Field?

Google maps says Frontier Field to Target Field is 989 miles apart. At 99 MPH his heater would take just under 10 hours to hit it.

 

I'd love to see him break camp with the team though.

[Vanimal46]

That's encouraging to read the heat is there with Burdi. Sounds like a future closer or 8th inning guy in the works. Is there anything in the works for a changeup to go along with that 99 MPH heater?

[HitInAPinch]

meh. His splitter [if that's what it really was] is much more important to his development.  And it was pretty nasty.

[Thrylos]

 

meh. His splitter [if that's what it really was] is much more important to his development.  And it was pretty nasty.

 

Best pitch he threw all night   (Nah that looking K slider at 87 was it...)

[HitInAPinch]

 

Best pitch he threw all night   (Nah that looking K slider at 87 was it...)

Yup, that was a slider.  During the game I was listening to the announcers.  In a Strib article this morning, Burdi never threw the split.  Damn good slider!

[Seth Stohs]

Late last season in Chattanooga, Burdi came back from Ft. Myers and was setting up for Chargois through their Southern League championship run. But, I think most would view Burdi as the future closer and Chargois setting up... though I don't really think it matters much. Both have the right mentality for it. Burdi's got the two pitches and is working on that split. Chargois already has three pitches. Could be a lot of fun to watch!

[Loosey]

 

Late last season in Chattanooga, Burdi came back from Ft. Myers and was setting up for Chargois through their Southern League championship run. But, I think most would view Burdi as the future closer and Chargois setting up... though I don't really think it matters much. Both have the right mentality for it. Burdi's got the two pitches and is working on that split. Chargois already has three pitches. Could be a lot of fun to watch!

Hopefully the Twins will be winning enough in the future they will need to use 2 closers so one doesn't get worn out pitching every day.