Chicago White Sox starting pitching prospect Sean Burke took a tough loss in his second start of the campaign on Wednesday afternoon against the Minnesota Twins. Burke was able to log four 1/3 innings of work and allowed seven hits and six earned runs. He tallied just two strikeouts. He ran into trouble early, allowing a solo home run to Minnesota outfielder Byron Buxton in the first inning. Later in the fourth, he would allow a three-run shot to outfielder Harrison Bader. This was a tough outing for Burke, who performed quite well on Opening Day, as he tossed six shutout innings against the Angels. In that game, he allowed just three hits and struck out three. Last season, the former third-round pick received a brief taste of the majors as he logged 19 innings to the tune of a 1.42 ERA. He is worth holding in deeper 15-team formats as the White Sox will continue to provide him starting opportunities.
Sean Burke Throws Six Shutout Innings, Earns Win On Thursday
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Sean Burke impressed on Opening Day, tossing six shutout innings, allowing three hits and no walks while striking out three on the way to earning the win in the 8-1 victory over the Angels. The righty didn't have a great spring, pitching to a 6.75 ERA with a 9:8 BB:K, but looked more like he did last season when he was put into the rotation in September. In those four September starts, the 6-foot-6 hurler posted a 1.42 ERA (3.32 FIP), 1.00 WHIP, and a 19.7 percent K-BB%. The former third-round draft pick had command issues in the minors (12.5 percent BB%), but always had strong strikeout rates (29.4 percent K%), so if he can limit the walks like he did on Thursday, then he could be a solid back-end pitcher for redraft and DFS when the matchup is favorable. Speaking of which, Burke's next start should come next Wednesday at home against the Twins, who struck out 11 times as a team on Opening Day.
Chicago White Sox right-handed pitcher Sean Burke will get the starting nod on Opening Day against the Los Angeles Angels. The 25-year-old made his MLB debut late in the 2024 campaign and has already moved to the top of the rotation. During his brief 19-inning taste of the majors, Burke posted a 1.42 ERA with a strong 1.00 WHIP. He tallied 22 punchouts and held a modest 9.2 percent walk rate. He also generated a high 40.4 percent hard-hit rate with an 8.5 percent barrel rate, which suggests he may face some regression during the 2025 campaign. At the Triple-A level, the 25-year-old held a 4.61 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP across 64 1/3 innings. Across this stint, the Maryland product tallied 86 strikeouts and served up 36 walks. He should be viewed as a high-risk play in DFS and should only be started in deeper AL-only formats.
Chicago White Sox pitcher Sean Burke will open the regular season in the starting rotation, according to manager Will Venable. The right-hander appears to have impressed the organization enough in camp to open the season with the big league club. Burke posted a 1.42 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 22/7 K/BB ratio across four games (three starts) with the White Sox last season. The 25-year-old is a former third-round pick of the organization from 2021. His numbers in the minor leagues isn't great, but it appears the organization believes he's ready to make an impact on the South Side. Fantasy managers can go ahead and use a wait-and-see approach with Burke.
ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that the Chicago White Sox, who set an MLB record for most losses in a single season in 2024, ended last season believing that pitching prospect Sean Burke would be part of their starting rotation in 2025. The 25-year-old right-hander, who stands at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds has also looked good in spring training, using a high-octane fastball and what can be a devastating curveball. In two Cactus League starts, he's allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out three in five innings. Passan believes Burke will be able to hold his own while the White Sox wait for top pitching prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith. Burke is Chicago's No. 13 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and impressed in his small sample size to close 2024. Shoulder issues in the past put his durability in question, but Burke's four-pitch mix make him intriguing in AL-only leagues.
According to Scott Merkin, Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Sean Burke emphasized durability during his offseason training. The 25-year-old has battled numerous arm injuries over the past two seasons. However, he has been quite productive when he has been on the mound. Across his first 19 innings in the majors this past season, Burke posted a stellar 1.42 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP. He struck out 22 batters and served up just seven free passes. In 64 1/3 innings with Triple-A Charlotte, Burke posted a 4.62 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP. During the 2023 season, he was limited to just 36 2/3 innings of work. Seeing that the Maryland product has emphasized durability in his training is a positive sign. Fantasy managers should expect Burke to compete for a spot in the starting rotation alongside Bryse Wilson and Ky Bush during spring training.
Sean Burke Snaps Winless Streak With Strong Outing Tuesday
Chicago White Sox pitching prospect Sean Burke was selected in the third round of the 2021 draft. The fact that he reached Double-A in a matter of months should tell you how much he has impressed the Chicago organization. The right-hander has a solid fastball that has only added velocity since he made his pro debut; it now peaks at 98 mph but generally sits in the mid-90s. He also has good feel for his knuckle curve and slider, and both breaking balls have the potential to become plus pitches if he can execute a bit more break. Finally, his changeup is nothing special but merely a change-of-pace offering, giving Burke another tool with which he can keep hitters guessing. Burke hasn't pitched since last Tuesday, when he tossed just five innings in search of his first win since May 19. He was successful, allowing zero runs on just two hits en route to securing the victory. Most notably, Burke struck out nine batters and did not walk anyone; both of these marks represented career-highs for the 22-year-old.
Sean Burke
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White Sox
