Billy Burns (baseball) explained

Billy Burns
Position:Center fielder
Birth Date:30 August 1989
Birth Place:Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Bats:Switch
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:July 28
Debutyear:2014
Debutteam:Oakland Athletics
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:July 21
Finalyear:2017
Finalteam:Kansas City Royals
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.270
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:5
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:55
Stat4label:Stolen bases
Stat4value:46
Teams:

William John Burns (born August 30, 1989) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals.

Career

Amateur

Burns attended George Walton Comprehensive High School in Marietta, Georgia,[1] and Mercer University. In 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2]

Washington Nationals

He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 32nd round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft,[3] and started the 2013 season with the Potomac Nationals but was promoted to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators during the season.[4] Burns hit .315/.425/.383 and stole 74 bases between the two levels.[5] After the season, he was named the Nationals Minor League Player of the Year.[6] [7]

Oakland Athletics

On December 11, 2013, the Nationals traded Burns to the Oakland Athletics for Jerry Blevins.[8] Burns hit .250/.333/.330, with 51 stolen bases, before being called up to the majors from the Double-A Midland RockHounds on July 28, 2014.[9]

On May 24, 2015 he hit his first MLB home run against Tampa Bay Rays, when he swung on the first pitch of the game. In 2015 he batted 294/.334/.392 with 26 stolen bases, and led the majors in percentage of soft-hit batted balls (31.0%).[10]

Kansas City Royals

On July 30, 2016, the Athletics traded Burns to the Kansas City Royals for Brett Eibner.[11]

The Royals designated Burns for assignment on February 28, 2018.[12] He cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers on March 4.[13] In 102 games for Omaha, Burns batted .255/.314/.317 with four home runs, 36 RBI, and 10 stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 2.[14]

New York Yankees

On January 4, 2019, the New York Yankees signed Burns to a minor league contract.[15] He received a non-roster invitation to spring training in 2019.[16] In 93 games for the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, he hit .258/.330/.360 with two home runs, 25 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. Burns elected free agency following the season on November 4.[17]

As of July 15, 2020, Burns had retired from professional baseball and become a real estate agent.

Personal life

His sister, Abbey, is a member of the U.S. Paralympic Swim Team.[18]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Zuvanich. Adam. TEXAS LEAGUE BASEBALL: Faith, sister fuel Burns' drive to succeed. July 29, 2014. Odessa American. April 2, 2014.
  2. Web site: #32 Billy Burns . pointstreak.com . August 12, 2021.
  3. Web site: Burns Taken by Washington Nationals in 32nd Round of 2011 MLB Draft . Mercerbears.com . June 8, 2011 . December 14, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140724060057/http://mercerbears.com/sports/bsb/2010-11/releases/burns_draft_release . July 24, 2014 .
  4. Web site: Dave. Sottile . Senators OF Billy Burns proving to be as good as advertised . Pennlive.com . August 26, 2013 . December 14, 2013.
  5. News: Dykstra. Sam. A's call up speedy prospect Burns. July 29, 2014. MILB.com. July 28, 2014.
  6. Web site: Wagner . James . Billy Burns named Nationals' minor league player of the year, Taylor Jordan named pitcher of the year . Washingtonpost.com . December 14, 2013.
  7. Web site: Nationals name OF Billy Burns & RHP Taylor Jordan Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year . Mlb.mlb.com . September 13, 2013 . December 14, 2013.
  8. Web site: A's Acquire OF Billy Burns from Washington for LHP Jerry Blevins . https://web.archive.org/web/20131213195530/http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20131211&content_id=64585284&vkey=pr_oak&c_id=oak . dead . December 13, 2013 . Oakland.athletics.mlb.com . December 11, 2013 . December 14, 2013.
  9. News: Lee. Jane. Gentry lands on DL with broken hand; Burns recalled. July 29, 2014. MLB.com. July 28, 2014.
  10. https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=2&season=2015&month=0&season1=2015&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=17,d Major League Leaderboards » 2015 » Batters » Batted Ball Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball
  11. Web site: A's trade Burns to Royals for Eibner. WDAF-TV. Associated Press. July 30, 2016. July 30, 2016.
  12. https://twitter.com/MLBRosterMoves/status/968889216922013698 MLBRosterMoves on Twitter: ".@Royals sign 1B Lucas Duda to one-year deal; designate OF Billy Burns for assignment."
  13. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/03/minor-mlb-transactions-342018.html Minor MLB Transactions: 3/4/2018 - MLB Trade Rumors
  14. Web site: Minor League Free Agents 2018. Baseball America. Matt. Eddy. November 6, 2018. November 12, 2018.
  15. Web site: Yankees' Billy Burns: Lands with Yankees. CBSSports.com. en. 2019-01-05.
  16. Web site: Yankees invite Florial to spring camp . MiLB.com . Sam . Dykstra. February 1, 2019. February 3, 2019.
  17. Web site: Minor League Free Agents 2019. Matt Eddy. Baseball America. November 7, 2019. November 7, 2019.
  18. Web site: Burns sister Abbey part of an athletic family . September 18, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150910145155/http://www.csnbayarea.com/athletics/notes-burns-sister-abbey-part-athletic-family . September 10, 2015 .

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