If you were watching Nick Burdi’s second outing this spring on Saturday, 2/28, you heard Steve Gelbs go over Burdi’s injury history. He’s had two tommy john procedures and one procedure for thoracic outlet syndrome. Burdi keeps pushing through the tough times, and is hoping to make the Mets at some point this season.
Burdi was drafted twice by the Minnesota Twins. First in 2011 (11th round) and then again in 2014 (2nd round) after he went to the University of Louisville. The Twins left him unprotected in the 2017 Rule 5 draft, where the Phillies selected him and then traded him to the Pirates. He would later make his major debut with the Pirates that season and stayed with the Pirates for a few seasons, getting 12 1/3 innings over 16 games with a 9.49 ERA.
Burdi showed promise for the Yankees in 2024 where he pitched in 12 games, totaling 9 2/3 innings with a 1.86 ERA, 5.44 FIP, 1.448 WHIP and a 224 ERA+. He earned a spot in the bullpen in spring training and with the team until a hip injury derailed his season in late May. In 2024 Burdi’s high-90’s fastball was good for the 94th percentile in the league. He had a small-sample size year, but his xBA of .158 and average exit velocity of 84 mph would have been in the top of the league if he tossed enough innings to qualify.
Over two outings this spring Burdi has allowed two runs from two hits, including a home run, while striking out one batter. All of the runs came in his first outing and his second outing was quite calm. It’s difficult to see a scenario right now where Burdi makes the Mets team out of spring training without either injuries to other players (or Burdi just goes on an incredible run for rest of the month). If Burdi can stay healthy, the Mets will probably call him up at some point this season. If he’s like his 2024 self, he could become one of those NRI signings we talk about every spring when evaluating players.
