Enrique Burgos Getting a Long Look for the Bullpen

Mar 1, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Enrique Burgos (63) poses for a portrait during Photo Day at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not every season that someone who has never pitched above Class A ball can make a Major League team out of Spring Training. Enrique Burgos is attempting to become one of the few to accomplish this feat. Having the ability to hit almost 100 MPH with a fastball certainly gives Burgos a chance to make the Arizona Diamondbacks. With a week to go before the regular season begins, the 24-year old right-hander is in the mix for one of the final bullpen spots.

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Burgos was signed at the age of 17 from Panama in 2008. His father of the same name had a brief Major League career during the mid 1990’s. Initially a starter, the younger Burgos was converted to a reliever before the 2012 season. At 6-3 and 250 pounds, it proved to be a wise move. Burgos shot up during the 2014 season when he became a California League standout and had his fastball clocked at triple digits during the league’s All Star Game. He struck out 83 batters in only 54 1/3 innings and followed that up with four saves in ten appearances during the Arizona Fall League, good for second among all relievers.

During Cactus League play, Burgos owns a 1.80 ERA in nine appearances. He has been unscored upon in seven of those games with 14 strikeouts in 10 innings. Control has been an issue in the Spring with seven walks and he has allowed seven hits. The odds are long indeed for Burgos but with Matt Stites not having a timetable to resume throwing and Addison Reed only seeing Spring Training action last week, there is a chance Burgos breaks camp with the D’backs. How long he will remain is another story.