Mike Burrows: From Small-Town Standout To MLB Pitcher For The Pirates
Discover the journey of Mike Burrows, a talented pitcher from Waterford, Connecticut, who rose through the ranks to make his Major League debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Jul 19, 20257.4K Shares186.4K Views
Mike Burrowswas born on November 8, 1999, in Waterford, Connecticut, USA. He grew up in Waterford and attended Waterford High School there. In his final year of high school (2018), he had an outstanding season. He recorded six wins and no losses, with a very low earned run average (ERA) of 0.38. He struck out 98 batters in just 44 or 47 innings. Because of his high school performance, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He chose to sign with them for $500,000 instead of going to the University of Connecticut to play college baseball.
Amateur Career
Mike Burrows attended Waterford High School in Waterford, Connecticut. During his senior year in 2018, he had an excellent season, finishing with a perfect 6–0 record. He posted an earned run average (ERA) of just 0.38 and struck out 98 batters in around 44 to 47 innings. His strong performance on the mound gained the attention of scouts and colleges. He had committed to play college baseball at the University of Connecticut (UConn), but that summer he was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft, with the 324th overall pick. Instead of going to college, he decided to begin his professional baseball journey and signed with the Pirates for a $500,000 bonus.
Professional Career
Mike Burrows began his pro career in 2018 with the Gulf Coast League Pirates, where he pitched 14 innings and did not allow an earned run. In 2019, he played for the Low‑A West Virginia Black Bears, starting 11 games and finishing with a 2–3 record and a 4.33 ERA. He did not play in 2020 because the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID‑19 pandemic.
In 2021, he pitched for the High‑A Greensboro Grasshoppers, making 13 starts and recording a 2–2 record with a 2.20 ERA and 66 strikeouts over 49 innings. In 2022, he began at Double‑A Altoona Curve and was promoted in June to Triple‑A Indianapolis Indians; combined across both levels, he appeared in 24 games (22 starts) with a 5–6 record, a 4.01 ERA and 111 strikeouts. In November 2022, the Pirates added him to their 40-man roster.
In early 2023, he returned to Triple‑A but only made two starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery in April, ending his season. He came back in mid‑2024, working through rehab levels before rejoining Triple‑A Indianapolis. Across 10 games (9 starts) he posted a 4.06 ERA with 45 strikeouts in around 37 innings. On September 28, 2024, he was promoted to the Major Leagues for the first time, making his debut in relief against the New York Yankees and earning a win over 3.1 innings.
In 2025, he began the season in Triple‑A but was recalled several times to the Pirates, making mixed relief and starting appearances. He earned his first Major League win as a starter in early June 2025, throwing 5.1 scoreless innings with six strikeouts in a shutout of the Houston Astros. As of July 12, 2025, his MLB record stands at 2–3 with a 4.67 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 44.1 innings.
Jump to
Latest Articles
Popular Articles