Brock Burke to make home debut Sunday
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Biscuits starting pitcher Brock Burke (blister) will return to the rotation and make his Riverwalk Stadium debut on Sunday, manager Brady Williams said. The 21-year-old made his Double-A debut on July 10, leaving the game in the sixth inning due to a blister on his left index finger.
“In his first start, he was good,” Williams said. “If he pitches like that every time, he’s going to have a lot of success.
“We are going to take it pitch-by-pitch and inning-by-inning, but, hopefully, he comes out of it with no problems.”
Burke allowed two earned runs across five innings and struck out six Tennessee Smokies, including 2016 National League Most Valuable Player Kris Bryant. Bryant, who was rehabbing at the time, was held hitless in two at-bats against the debutant.
Prior to his promotion, the Tampa Bay Rays’ third-round pick had gone at least six innings in four of his last six appearances with High-A Charlotte. During that span, Burke posted a 2–0 record, 2.51 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 28.2 innings.
“Not that he is Blake Snell, but when you look at him physically, that’s kind of who he resembles,” said Williams. “His command needs to improve with all his pitches because Blake’s command was really, really good. But, you can kind of compare both of them.”
Burke will take the ball in the series finale between the Biscuits and Mississippi Braves on July 22. The first pitch from Riverwalk Stadium is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
