Fansided · Jan 27, 2020
Pittsburgh Pirates 2020 Breakout Candidate: Reliever Nick Burdi
After injury cost him nearly all of the 2019 season, reliever Nick Burdi is ready to break out for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020
At the 2018 MLB Winter Meetings the Philadelphia Phillies added reliever Nick Burdi in the Rule 5 Draft. Later that day, he was acquired in exchange for $500,000 of international signing bonus money by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
During Spring Training 2019, hype began to build for Burdi. Using a power fastball and a wipeout slider, the converted starter showed why he was once the Minnesota Twins’ top pitching prospect. His spring performance led to Burdi making the Pirates’ Opening Day roster.