TAMPA — Triple-A Worcester reliever Nick Burdi, a 32-year-old journeyman righty who pitched for the Yankees last year, has been up to 98.6 mph with his fastball while striking out 11 and allowing just three hits and one walk in 6 ⅔ scoreless innings so far.
“He’s got a sinker that moves 20 inches this way and a hard sweeper that moves 20 inches that way,” Red Sox pitcher Michael Fulmer said, pointing in both directions while sitting in the visiting clubhouse before a game against the Rays here at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Burdi has put himself on the radar here in April as a potential call-up candidate after spending spring training in minor league camp.
“He’s had a great season so far — kind of making hitters look silly,” said Fulmer, who saw Burdi’s first four relief outings this year before being called up to Boston on Sunday.
Burdi, a 2014 Twins second round pick (46th overall), averaged 97.5 mph with his fastball and allowed just two runs in 9 ⅔ innings (1.86 ERA) for the Yankees last year.
But he settled on a minor league deal with the Red Sox after he missed significant time in 2024 while on the 60-day IL (right hip inflammation). New York designated him for assignment last Sept. 7.
He inked his minor league deal with Boston on the first day of spring training (Feb. 12). It didn’t include an invitation to big league camp despite pitching well for New York last year and logging 31 major league outings from 2018-24 with the Pirates, Cubs and Yankees.
He spent the whole camp on the minor league side, except for pitching in one Grapefruit League game March 17. And he dominated that day. He retired all five Atlanta batters he faced on 18 pitches (13 strikes). He struck out two batters swinging and earned a save in a 2-1 win over the Braves.
“Burdi really put the time and work in to kind of master his craft and it’s paying off,” Fulmer said.
The righty throws a sinker, sweeper, four-seam fastball and changeup. He works up and down in the zone as well to both sides of the plate.
“Four-seam, he can run it up to like 98, 99 (mph),” said Red Sox catcher Blake Sabol who caught Burdi in Worcester before being called up to Boston last week. “I think he can touch 100. That’s really good at the top of the zone. He’s got a sinker that he’s been throwing now around like 94. It’s been pretty effective against righties. He’s able to play the north/south, east/west game with a four-seam, two-seam, sweeper and then he has this changeup that’s really good, too. I liked to catch him a lot down there. He’s able to backdoor the sweeper when he needs to. He gets under the plate backfoot for the kill shots and stuff. But I think that’s just what helps him out from a reliever standpoint — being able to play it both north/south and east/west.”
Control has been an issue in the big leagues — he had nine walks in his 9 ⅔ innings for New York last year — but he’s pounding the strike zone this season.
Senior director of player development Brian Abraham said via text, “Nick has been healthy and has worked incredibly hard since joining us in regards to optimizing his velo and pitch shapes. He has mixed locations, speeds and uses power stuff to challenge and effectively get hitters out of the zone.”
Other Worcester players to watch
Fulmer pointed out that top prospect Roman Anthony (113.1 mph single Sunday) isn’t the only WooSox hitter making really hard contact.
“(Roman) has been hammering balls to left, to right, to center, kind of everywhere,” Fulmer said. “I think Nate Eaton though has been really hitting the ball hard, too. Good approach at the plate. Make pitchers work. But he’s also aggressive enough to keep guys honest.”
Eaton — a 28-year-old outfielder — had a 112.1 mph exit velocity on a lineout last Wednesday. Anthony also had a 112.1 mph single that day.
“He’s been swinging the bat well,” Fulmer added about Eaton. “So has Vaughn (Grissom), too. He’s made a few plays in the field for me specifically.”
Grissom went 4-for-6 with three doubles, three RBIs and one run in Worcester’s 7-2 win over Rochester on Tuesday. The 24-year-old has a .340/.400/.520/.920 line with two homers and three doubles in 55 plate appearances.
“The boys can swing it down there,” Fulmer said.
Campbell’s streak ends
Rookie Kristian Campbell didn’t reach base in Boston’s 7-4 win over the Rays here Tuesday. It was the first game of his young MLB career that he didn’t reach base. He reached in his first 17 big league games, the second longest on-base streak to begin a career in Red Sox history behind only George Scott (26 straight games in 1966).
“I’m very impressed by Kristian — the way that he plays, the way that he takes pitches,” Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu said through translator Daveson Perez.
Abreu said Campbell takes “big league at-bats.” He already has 10 walks in 74 plate appearances (13.5% walk percentage).
“It’s not easy to do (at that age) but he’s doing it well,” Abreu said. “For him to have the at-bats that he’s having, I think he’s going to have that same success for a long time. The future is bright.”
Abreu also is excited about the 20-year-old Anthony who went 2-for-3 with three walks and one run out of the leadoff spot in Worcester’s win over Rochester on Tuesday. He has a .283/.441/.500/.941 line with two homers, two doubles and one triple in 59 plate appearances this season.
“He hits the ball very hard,” Abreu said. “He has a great approach. That’s why he’s one of the best prospects that we have and also the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball. I think whenever he gets called up, he’s going to have a great career.”
