Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
The Rays developed Burke slowly after signing him for an above-slot $897,500 as a third-rounder out of the Colorado high school ranks in 2014, and they didn't promote him to full-season ball until three years later. His stuff jumped a notch last summer when he got to Double-A, where he logged a 1.95 ERA in nine starts, and he earned Tampa Bay's Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award. The Rangers acquired him along with three other prospects and international bonus pool money in a three-team trade in December that sent Jurickson Profar to the A's and lefty pitching prospect Rollie Lacy to the Rays.
As Burke has matured physically, he has added to his fastball velocity and his ability to maintain it deeper into games, and he now operates at 90-94 mph with a peak of 96 and some running life. His heater plays better than its velocity because his delivery and 6-foot-4 frame create good extension and plane. His slider has also added power and features late bite, and his fading changeup continues to improve and shows flashes of giving him a solid third offering.
Burke battled his control when he first entered pro ball but now has no difficulty finding the strike zone. He has deception in his delivery that makes it difficult for hitters to barrel his pitches. Bothered by blisters early in the 2019 season, he's working on refining his command so he can attain his ceiling of a mid-rotation starter. Statcast - Pitching Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2019 476 93 7 7.5 85.2 6.9 .273 .474 .367 .348 .352 28.0 11.7 9.2 ALL 476 93 7 7.5 85.2 6.9 .273 .474 .367 .348 .352 28.0 11.7 9.2 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Transactions Team Date Transaction 08/20/2019 Texas Rangers recalled LHP Brock Burke from Nashville Sounds. 08/06/2019 LHP Brock Burke assigned to Nashville Sounds from Frisco RoughRiders. 06/26/2019 LHP Brock Burke assigned to Frisco RoughRiders from Hickory Crawdads. 06/24/2019 LHP Brock Burke assigned to Hickory Crawdads from Frisco RoughRiders. 06/17/2019 Frisco RoughRiders sent LHP Brock Burke on a rehab assignment to AZL Rangers. 06/17/2019 Frisco RoughRiders sent LHP Brock Burke on a rehab assignment to AZL Rangers. 04/23/2019 Frisco RoughRiders placed LHP Brock Burke on the 7-day injured list. 04/16/2019 Frisco RoughRiders activated LHP Brock Burke from the 7-day injured list. 03/12/2019 Texas Rangers optioned LHP Brock Burke to Frisco RoughRiders. 12/21/2018 Texas Rangers Traded 2B Jurickson Profar to Oakland Athletics; Oakland Athletics Traded 2B Eli White and Future Considerations to Texas Rangers; Oakland Athletics Traded RHP Emilio Pagan and Future Considerations to Tampa Bay Rays; Tampa Bay Rays Traded LHP Kyle Bird, LHP Brock Burke and RHP Yoel Espinal to Texas Rangers and Texas Rangers Traded RHP Rollie Lacy to Tampa Bay Rays. 11/20/2018 Tampa Bay Rays selected the contract of LHP Brock Burke from Montgomery Biscuits. 07/10/2018 Brock Burke assigned to Charlotte Stone Crabs from Montgomery Biscuits. 07/09/2018 LHP Brock Burke assigned to Montgomery Biscuits from Charlotte Stone Crabs. 07/09/2018 Montgomery Biscuits activated LHP Brock Burke. 02/23/2018 LHP Brock Burke assigned to Tampa Bay Rays. 07/10/2017 Charlotte Stone Crabs activated LHP Brock Burke from the 7-day disabled list. 07/04/2017 Charlotte Stone Crabs placed LHP Brock Burke on the 7-day disabled list. 06/08/2017 LHP Brock Burke assigned to Charlotte Stone Crabs from Bowling Green Hot Rods. 04/04/2017 LHP Brock Burke assigned to Bowling Green Hot Rods from Hudson Valley Renegades. 06/16/2016 LHP Brock Burke assigned to Hudson Valley Renegades from Princeton Rays. 06/20/2015 LHP Brock Burke assigned to Princeton Rays from GCL Rays. 07/03/2014 LHP Brock Burke assigned to GCL Rays. 07/02/2014 Tampa Bay Rays signed LHP Brock Burke.
