Alex Burnett

[William Malone]

Alex James Burnett was born on July 26, 1987 in Anaheim, California. 

The Minnesota Twins selected him in round 12 of the 2005 MLB Draft. He worked as a starting pitcher in the lower minor league levels, but transitioned to a relief role in 2009. Burnett had a 1.79 ERA with nine saves for the New Britain Rock Cats (AA) that summer. This performance helped him skip Triple-A and earn an Opening Day roster spot in 2010.

Burnett opened his big league career by tossing a 1-2-3 ninth inning to finish off a 10-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He got on a role after that, and had a 2.70 ERA through 25 appearances, which covered 33.1 innings. However, Burnett struggled over the next month and a half. Minnesota sent him down to Triple-A after adding bullpen reinforcements, such as Matt Capps and Brian Fuentes, at the deadline. The Twins called him back up when rosters expanded in September. Burnett finished his rookie season with a 5.29 ERA across 41 appearances, going 2-2 with two holds. Minnesota did not include him on their playoff roster that fall.

He made the Opening Day roster again in 2011, and got off to a rough start. Burnett finished May with a 6.75 ERA, but was kept on the Twins big league roster with so many others struggling on a last place club. He opened June with five consecutive scoreless appearances, and was able to calm his ERA down to 5.51 by the end of the year.

The best season of his career came in 2012. Burnett was 4-4 with a 3.52 ERA in 71.2 innings out of the Twins bullpen. He finished August with a 2.87 ERA, but had a rough final month.

Burnett had a rough spring in 2013, allowing seven earned runs in 8.1 innings. The Twins placed him on waivers to create a 40-man spot for outfielder Wilkin Ramirez, and he was claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays. Burnett became a frequently flier on waivers that season, also spending time in the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles organizations. He had an 11.57 ERA at the big league level, and a 2.93 ERA for various Triple-A teams.

The right handed reliever spent 2014 in independent ball, and 2015 in Mexico.

View full player