Early on this season, Nick Burdi looked ready to burst onto the scene for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Through his first 10 games of the season Burdi owned a 4.32 ERA and a -0.17 FIP in 8 1/3 innings pitched. He had faced 34 batters and struck out 17 of them.
The 2019 season was to be Burdi’s first shot at an opportunity at the MLB level. A one time top pitching prospect in the Minnesota Twins farm system, Burdi had been riddled by injuries, including Tommy John Surgery, before being selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the Rule 5 Draft at the 2017 MLB Winter Meetings.