SEAN BURNETT

9/17/82; '00 1st; Wellington, FL (HS)
L/L; 6-1, 185

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	BB	K	ERA
2000 R	2-1-0	8	6	31.0	31	3	24	4.06
2001 A	11-8-0	26	26	161.1	164	33	134	2.62
2002 A+	13-4-0	26	26	155.1	118	33	96	1.80
2003 AA	14-6-0	27	27	159.2	158	29	86	3.21
2004 NL	5-5-0	13	13	71.2	86	28	30	5.02
2004 AAA	1-5-0	10	10	47.0	58	17	25	5.36

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	BB	K	ERA	OAVG	OOBP	OSLG
2005 INJURED

Burnett made his long-awaited major league debut in 2004, but the results were disastrous. Initially he was outstanding, sporting a 4-2 record and 2.18 ERA after his first seven starts, one of which was a CG shutout. In his last six starts, however, he went 1-3, 9.11. He started feeling elbow pain during that time but didn't tell the team initially. Eventually he let them know about it. After a puzzling series of tests, during which he was initially diagnosed as not having any structural damage, it was finally determined that he had a torn ligament. He underwent Tommy John surgery in September. He was expected to be able to return to the mound late in the year, but shortly before his scheduled return he hurt his shoulder and needed surgery, leaving him unable to pitch again until spring 2006.

Burnett had been an especially interesting prospect, because of his outstanding performance coupled with very low K rates. He was always regarded as a top prospect, but K rate is usually the best indicator of major league success. Burnett had a spectacular 2002 season, which he followed with a strong season in AA. He was outstanding in the first half of the 2003, then seemed to tire as the season went along and started to get hit harder. His K rate, which had improved somewhat in the early season, dropped a great deal. He missed his last start and the playoffs when he was shut down with a sore elbow. Although the Pirates downplayed it at the time, it was obviously an early warning of larger problems to come. Burnett's main pitch is an outstanding changeup. In 2002 he reportedly threw his fastball around 89-92, but his velocity dropped in 2003 and was generally around 85-88, although he did occasionally reach the low 90s. When I saw him, he seemed to throw a little harder in key situations. He spent the latter part of 2002 working on a slider, which the Pirates now regard as a good pitch. Although his ability to make batters swing and miss has raised doubts, there are two factors in his favor: an extremely low HR rate—he allowed only two in 2003—and the fact that he was successful at AA at a very young age—he didn't turn 21 until after the season.

Burnett was given a shot at the 5th spot in the rotation during 2004 spring training. The team clearly preferred from the start to send him to AAA, but he pitched so well that he lasted until the last cut. When they sent him down, Burnett by his own admission didn't concentrate well in AAA. He had control problems for the first time in his career, got hit hard, and even allowed 5 HRs. He was promoted due to injuries, not his performance. Before the elbow problem arose, he generally allowed a fairly high total of hits, but didn't walk many and kept the ball in the park—all of the 9 HRs he allowed for the Pirates came after the trouble started. Surprisingly, the Pirates began talking about Burnett seriously competing for the 5th starters spot in spring training. The talk probably reflected their dissatisfaction with the available choices. When Kip Wells was lost, the talk of Burnett breaking camp in the rotation increased. Given the time it generally takes pitchers to get their command back after Tommy John surgery, let alone TJ surgery that was immediately followed by shoulder surgery, the idea that Burnett will be ready for the majors before mid-season seemed far-fetched, and in fact he was cut fairly early. He'll open in AAA and the Pirates will look for him to show he's ready to return to the majors.

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