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Check this out! This article talks about the big-league pitchers from the thriving metropolis of Weatherford, Texas . . . not exactly where you expect to see major league talent ascend from 4A Texas state baseball.
Beau Burrows was dominant when pitching for the Weatherford Kangaroos just a couple years ago, prompting those who saw him to proclaim his potential to pitch professionally. He was drafted in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Detroit Tigers following the 2015 season.
Now, he’s pitching as a pro, and other pros, along with officials at the highest level, are praising his potential to reach the major leagues some day.
Burrows is pitching at the Tigers’ Double-A affiliate, the Erie SeaWolves. He was also recently a participant in the Major League Baseball Futures Game.
Burrows pitched a perfect scoreless inning, which included recording strikeouts with pitches of 96 and 98 miles per hour.
“It’s been fun watching Beau progress from Rookie ball to Double-A in just two short years,” Weatherford head coach Jason Lee said. “He seems to be rising faster than anticipated, but it doesn’t surprise me. Beau has always had a strong work ethic and continues to work very hard in pursuit of his dream of playing Major League Baseball.
“Watching him in the Futures Game, he seemed completely comfortable and competitive with the young, elite talent. I would expect Beau to continue to progress on his journey
At Class A Lakeland (Fla.) to start this season, Burrows posted a 4-3 record , with a 1.23 ERA, 62 strikeouts and 11 walks 58.2 innings.
He was only recently moved up to Double-A, and at age 20 is one of the younger players at that level. At press time was 2-3 with a 5.19 ERA, 31 strikeouts and 18 walks in 34.2 innings.
In his first full season of pro ball, playing for the Western Michigan Whitecaps in 2016, Burrows was 6-4 with ERA of 1.23, 67 strikeouts and 30 walks in 97 innings.
Burrows is 13-10 with a 2.76 ERA overall in his minor league career. He has 193 strikeouts and 70 walks in 218.1 innings.
Burrows was ranked as the Tigers’ No. 2 prospect after the 2016 season.
DORRIS MOVES UP
Another former Kangaroo, Jacob Dorris, is moving up in the Houston Astros organization. He was recently assigned to their Triple-A club, the Fresno Grizzlies, after a strong stint with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks.
With Corpus Christi, Dorris posted three saves in four opportunities. He was 1-2 with a 3.89 ERA, along with 47 strikeouts and 15 walks in 38.1 innings.
Dorris was moved up to the Hooks during the 2016 season and was 4-for-4 in save opportunities with a 1.86 ERA, 16 strikeouts and one walk in 9.1 innings. In all, he was 14-for-14 in save opportunities pitching for three teams in 2016.
Dorris has been a pro since 2015 and has converted 24 of 26 save chances with a 2.97 ERA, 178 strikeouts and 53 walks in 130.1 innings.
ALSO…
▪Pitcher Michael Peoples, drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2012 out of Western Oklahoma State, began the season at Triple-A Columbus and is now at Double-A Akron. He has a career record of 37-34 with a 4.11 ERA, 414 strikeouts, 209 walks and 590 innings.
▪ Third baseman Kevin Cornelius, drafted by the New York Yankees in 2013 out of Grayson College, is now at Double-A Tennessee. He has a career batting average of .285 with 25 home runs and 100 RBI.
▪ Pitcher Trey Teakell, drafted by Detroit Tigers in 2015 out of TCU, is in undergoing rehabilitation for Tommy John Surgery. In his only professional season to date, he was 4-1 with two saves in two opportunities for the West Michigan Whitecaps and Connecticut Tigers in Class A ball. He also had a 1.91 ERA.