Sean Burke

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #14 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The White Sox drafted Burke in the third round in 2021 after his college career at Maryland that was delayed a year due to Tommy John surgery his freshman year. He came off a strong first full season in 2022 during which he jumped three levels. After ending the year in Triple-A, he was considered on the fast track to the big leagues. Instead, his 2023 season was first delayed by shoulder soreness and then ended in mid June with a recurrence of the same problem. He started just nine games at Triple-A Charlotte and had mostly inconsistent results on the mound.
  
  Scouting Report: When healthy, Burke has a solid four-pitch mix, with both his fastball and curveball as plus offerings. While his velocity on both pitches ticked down in 2023, the White Sox expect him to pitch between 91-98 mph and sit around 95-96 when healthy. He has solid ride up in the zone and gets late tailing life that is effective in all areas of the strike zone. His plus 77-80 mph curveball improved significantly prior to his shoulder issues, with 11-to-5 shape and tight downward break with depth. Burke’s average slider is 84-88 mph with two-plane break, and his fading mid-80s changeup is delivered with good arm speed. Prior to 2023, Burke regularly walked around four batters per nine innings, so improved strike-throwing and consistently commanding his pitches will be a key in making the next step.
  
  The Future: Burke has No. 4 starter upside, assuming he regains his health and previous stuff.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #5 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: After starring in both basketball and baseball in high school, Burke headed to Maryland to play baseball. He missed his freshman year after having Tommy John surgery, pitched just four games in 2020 because of the pandemic and then appeared in 14 games as a draft-eligible redshirt sophomore in 2021. Burke was drafted in the third round in 2021, signed for $900,000 and then pitched in seven games at two levels. Burke appeared in 27 games across three levels in 2022, finishing at Triple-A. His most eye-catching attribute was his strikeout rate of 11.4 per nine innings, which ranked inside the top 30 for minor leaguers with at least 100 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: The key to Burke's breakout was him becoming more consistent and comfortable on the mound. His plus fastball ranges from 91-98 mph and sits 95-96. It has ride up in the zone, late tailing life and is effective in all quadrants of the zone. Burke improved his curveball enough in 2022 to bump it from average to a potentially plus offering. With 11-to-5 shape, it has tight downward break with depth. Burke added a couple ticks to it in 2022 to get it in the 77-80 mph range, and it's now a weapon against lefthanded hitters. Burke's slider is average and sits in the 84-88 mph range with two-plane break. His potentially average, fading changeup was used sparingly in 2022 but showed improvement and was delivered with good arm speed. Burke uses an abbreviated windup and drives the ball down in the zone, commanding it to both sides.
  
  The Future: The improvement that Burke showed in 2022 gives him a chance to be a back-end starter, adding to the wealth of pitching that the White Sox organization is building. He'll return to Triple-A Charlotte in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #9 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Burke split his time playing baseball and basketball in high school and missed his freshman season at Maryland after having Tommy John surgery. He recovered to become the Terrapins’ top starter as a redshirt sophomore in 2021 and ranked second in the Big Ten Conference with 107 strikeouts. The White Sox drafted him in the third round and signed him for $900,000. Burke moved quickly to Low-A Kannapolis after signing and posted a 2.65 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 10 walks in 17 innings for the Cannon Ballers.
  
  Scouting Report: An athletic mover on the mound, Burke stands out for his pitchability and large, athletic frame. He has feel for all of his four pitches, coming from a low-effort, athletic delivery with clean arm action. The fastball was sitting 93-94 mph In his pro debut, touching 95-96. He generates good carry on the four-seam with easy velocity. Burke effectively pairs his two breaking balls. His above-average 12-to-6 curveball sits at 78-80 mph and allows him to effectively change a hitter’s eye level. The curve sets up a slider at 83-84 mph with two-plane depth, tight spin, and power. He also mixes in a low-80s changeup that projects to be a average.
  
  The Future: Burke doesn’t possess any plus pitches, but he has well-rounded arsenal that will play up as he improves the control. He’s got the chance to move quickly through the system, profiling best as a back-of-the-rotation innings-eater.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #52 prospect in 2021 draft
  Burke was a talented basketball player in high school and a projection pitching prospect thanks to a lean 6-foot-5 frame and an exciting fastball/curveball combination. He’s filled out that frame over three years with Maryland and is now listed at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, though he did miss the 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery. Burke worked an excellent 22.2 innings in the shortened 2020 season, striking out 35 batters and walking 11 while posting a 1.99 ERA. Burke is an impressive athlete for his size and this spring continued to show off the fastball/curveball combination that had scouts excited back in high school. Early this spring, Burke was sitting around 92-93 mph but that dipped over the course of the season. At his best, he’s run his fastball up to 97-98. The pitch reportedly has impressive spin characteristics up in the zone, which makes pairing it with a mid-70s downer curveball a good combination. The curveball has been Burke’s best swing-and-miss pitch this season and works best as a chase pitch as well. Burke also throws a slider in the low 80s, which scouts have said has improved this spring to the point where it’s his most frequently thrown offspeed pitch. Burke also throws a low-80s changeup that’s mostly straight, but the usage is minimal. Despite a low-effort delivery and athleticism, Burke’s strikes have been scattered and inconsistent, with a career walk rate close to 5.0 per nine innings.
• Ranked #209 prospect in 2018 draft
  A Maryland commit, Burke has a projectable, 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame. He's been up to 93 mph with his fastball, but he routinely pounds the strike zone with above-average command and a heater that sits in the 88-92 mph range. Burke's low-70s curveball remains inconsistent, but scouts have seen enough flashes to project it as an at least average pitch in the future. Burke will also flash a changeup, although it remains a distant third pitch well behind his fastball and curveball.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: After starring in both basketball and baseball in high school, Burke headed to Maryland to play baseball. He missed his freshman year after having Tommy John surgery, pitched just four games in 2020 because of the pandemic and then appeared in 14 games as a draft-eligible redshirt sophomore in 2021. Burke was drafted in the third round in 2021, signed for $900,000 and then pitched in seven games at two levels. Burke appeared in 27 games across three levels in 2022, finishing at Triple-A. His most eye-catching attribute was his strikeout rate of 11.4 per nine innings, which ranked inside the top 30 for minor leaguers with at least 100 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: The key to Burke's breakout was him becoming more consistent and comfortable on the mound. His plus fastball ranges from 91-98 mph and sits 95-96. It has ride up in the zone, late tailing life and is effective in all quadrants of the zone. Burke improved his curveball enough in 2022 to bump it from average to a potentially plus offering. With 11-to-5 shape, it has tight downward break with depth. Burke added a couple ticks to it in 2022 to get it in the 77-80 mph range, and it's now a weapon against lefthanded hitters. Burke's slider is average and sits in the 84-88 mph range with two-plane break. His potentially average, fading changeup was used sparingly in 2022 but showed improvement and was delivered with good arm speed. Burke uses an abbreviated windup and drives the ball down in the zone, commanding it to both sides.
  
  The Future: The improvement that Burke showed in 2022 gives him a chance to be a back-end starter, adding to the wealth of pitching that the White Sox organization is building. He'll return to Triple-A Charlotte in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: After starring in both basketball and baseball in high school, Burke headed to Maryland to play baseball. He missed his freshman year after having Tommy John surgery, pitched just four games in 2020 because of the pandemic and then appeared in 14 games as a draft-eligible redshirt sophomore in 2021. Burke was drafted in the third round in 2021, signed for $900,000 and then pitched in seven games at two levels. Burke appeared in 27 games across three levels in 2022, finishing at Triple-A. His most eye-catching attribute was his strikeout rate of 11.4 per nine innings, which ranked inside the top 30 for minor leaguers with at least 100 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: The key to Burke's breakout was him becoming more consistent and comfortable on the mound. His plus fastball ranges from 91-98 mph and sits 95-96. It has ride up in the zone, late tailing life and is effective in all quadrants of the zone. Burke improved his curveball enough in 2022 to bump it from average to a potentially plus offering. With 11-to-5 shape, it has tight downward break with depth. Burke added a couple ticks to it in 2022 to get it in the 77-80 mph range, and it's now a weapon against lefthanded hitters. Burke's slider is average and sits in the 84-88 mph range with two-plane break. His potentially average, fading changeup was used sparingly in 2022 but showed improvement and was delivered with good arm speed. Burke uses an abbreviated windup and drives the ball down in the zone, commanding it to both sides.
  
  The Future: The improvement that Burke showed in 2022 gives him a chance to be a back-end starter, adding to the wealth of pitching that the White Sox organization is building. He'll return to Triple-A Charlotte in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 60. Slider: 50. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/Very High
  
  Track Record: Burke split his time playing baseball and basketball in high school and missed his freshman season at Maryland after having Tommy John surgery. He recovered to become the Terrapins&#39 top starter as a redshirt sophomore in 2021 and ranked second in the Big Ten Conference with 107 strikeouts. The White Sox drafted him in the third round and signed him for $900,000. Burke moved quickly to Low-A Kannapolis after signing and posted a 2.65 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 10 walks in 17 innings for the Cannon Ballers.
  
  Scouting Report: An athletic mover on the mound, Burke stands out for his pitchability and large, athletic frame. He has feel for all of his four pitches, coming from a low-effort, athletic delivery with clean arm action. The fastball was sitting 93-94 mph In his pro debut, touching 95-96. He generates good carry on the four-seam with easy velocity. Burke effectively pairs his two breaking balls. His above-average 12-to-6 curveball sits at 78-80 mph and allows him to effectively change a hitter&#39s eye level. The curve sets up a slider at 83-84 mph with two-plane depth, tight spin, and power. He also mixes in a low-80s changeup that projects to be a average.
  
  The Future: Burke doesn&#39t possess any plus pitches, but he has well-rounded arsenal that will play up as he improves the control. He&#39s got the chance to move quickly through the system, profiling best as a back-of-the-rotation innings-eater.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Burke split his time playing baseball and basketball in high school and missed his freshman season at Maryland after having Tommy John surgery. He recovered to become the Terrapins’ top starter as a redshirt sophomore in 2021 and ranked second in the Big Ten Conference with 107 strikeouts. The White Sox drafted him in the third round and signed him for $900,000. Burke moved quickly to Low-A Kannapolis after signing and posted a 2.65 ERA with 20 strikeouts and 10 walks in 17 innings for the Cannon Ballers.
  
  Scouting Report: An athletic mover on the mound, Burke stands out for his pitchability and large, athletic frame. He has feel for all of his four pitches, coming from a low-effort, athletic delivery with clean arm action. The fastball was sitting 93-94 mph In his pro debut, touching 95-96. He generates good carry on the four-seam with easy velocity. Burke effectively pairs his two breaking balls. His above-average 12-to-6 curveball sits at 78-80 mph and allows him to effectively change a hitter’s eye level. The curve sets up a slider at 83-84 mph with two-plane depth, tight spin, and power. He also mixes in a low-80s changeup that projects to be a average.
  
  The Future: Burke doesn’t possess any plus pitches, but he has well-rounded arsenal that will play up as he improves the control. He’s got the chance to move quickly through the system, profiling best as a back-of-the-rotation innings-eater.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Burke was a talented basketball player in high school and a projection pitching prospect thanks to a lean 6-foot-5 frame and an exciting fastball/curveball combination. He's filled out that frame over three years with Maryland and is now listed at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, though he did miss the 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery. Burke worked an excellent 22.2 innings in the shortened 2020 season, striking out 35 batters and walking 11 while posting a 1.99 ERA. Burke is an impressive athlete for his size and this spring continued to show off the fastball/curveball combination that had scouts excited back in high school. Early this spring, Burke was sitting around 92-93 mph but that dipped over the course of the season. At his best, he's run his fastball up to 97-98. The pitch reportedly has impressive spin characteristics up in the zone, which makes pairing it with a mid-70s downer curveball a good combination. The curveball has been Burke's best swing-and-miss pitch this season and works best as a chase pitch as well. Burke also throws a slider in the low 80s, which scouts have said has improved this spring to the point where it's his most frequently thrown offspeed pitch. Burke also throws a low-80s changeup that's mostly straight, but the usage is minimal. Despite a low-effort delivery and athleticism, Burke's strikes have been scattered and inconsistent, with a career walk rate close to 5.0 per nine innings.