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One could be forgiven for being unfamiliar with Chicago White Sox pitcher Sean Burke.
A third round selection in the 2021 MLB Draft, Burke was not considered one of the White Sox’s top prospects. MLB.com ranks Burke as the White Sox’s 13th best prospect, lauding his plus fastball and solid breaking pitches while showing concerns with his ability to command his arsenal.
Burke will be receiving plenty of attention over the next few days. The White Sox named him as their Opening Day starter, giving him the ball against the Angels on March 27.
Burke had a strong showing during the final few weeks of the 2024 season. He made four appearances, with three starts, covering 19 innings. Burke posted a 1.42 ERA and a 1.000 WHiP, striking out 22 batters with seven walks.
He has not been as good during spring training. Burke has allowed five runs, four earned, on nine hits and five walks in his 8.2 Cactus League innings, striking out five. While veteran Martin Perez has been better thus far, Burke will get the ball first.
With his first pitch, Burke will find himself in the history books. Sarah Langs from MLB.com noted that Burke will be the sixth pitcher over the past 70 years to get a start on Opening Day with three or fewer career starts. The White Sox have two pitchers on that list, having done the same in 2024 with Garrett Crochet.
Burke will also be the seventh pitcher in the last 100 years to start on Opening Day with fewer than 20 innings under his belt. Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela was the most recent pitcher to get the Opening Day nod with that few innings, having thrown 17.2 innings in 1980. Burke’s 19 innings are the fewest of any White Sox Opening Day starter, surpassing Patsy Flaherty and the 61 career innings he had when he took the ball on Opening Day in 1903.
The 1903 season was not kind to Flaherty. He led the majors with 25 losses and allowed an AL worst 338 hits. Burke may not be one of the White Sox’s top prospects, but he could emerge as a building block. Opening Day will be the start of that journey.
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