Countdown to Opening Day - 30: A.J. Burnett looks to put bow on underrated career
In this 30-day series, theScore's MLB editors will preview the 2015 season with an in-depth look at some of the significant numbers - statistical milestones, jersey numbers and general miscellanea - poised to pop up throughout the campaign.
A.J. Burnett has one final season to define his underrated career.
The right-hander inked a one-year, $8.5-million deal to return to the Pittsburgh Pirates this winter - after declining the $12.75-million player option he had with the Philadelphia Phillies. He then announced this season will be his last as he looked for one final kick at the can in an effort to claim another World Series championship.
The 38-year-old lost a league-leading 18 games with the Phillies last year and is hoping a return to Pittsburgh, where he had success in 2012 and 2013, will be the perfect backdrop for a strong finish to his career.
Burnett is only 30 strikeouts away from becoming the 41st pitcher with 2,400, and can catapult himself well into upper 20s on the all-time list if he can replicate his 190 strikeouts from a year ago.
Here's a look at some of the elite hurlers Burnett will likely surpass on the list this season:
| Player | IP | Ks | K/9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30. Christy Mathewson | 4780.2 | 2502 | 4.71 |
| 31. Don Drysdale | 3432 | 2486 | 6.52 |
| 32. Jack Morris | 3824 | 2478 | 5.83 |
| 33. Mark Langston | 2962.2 | 2464 | 7.49 |
| 34. Jim Kaat | 4530.1 | 2461 | 4.89 |
| 35. Sam McDowell | 2492.1 | 2453 | 8.86 |
| 36. Andy Pettitte | 3316 | 2448 | 6.64 |
| 37. Jamie Moyer | 4074 | 2441 | 5.39 |
| 38. CC Sabathia | 2820 | 2437 | 7.78 |
| 39. Luis Tiant | 3486.1 | 2416 | 6.24 |
| 40. Dennis Eckersley | 3285.2 | 2401 | 6.58 |
| 41. Kevin Brown | 3256.1 | 2397 | 6.62 |
| 42. Sandy Koufax | 2324.1 | 2396 | 9.28 |
| 43. A.J. Burnett | 2567.1 | 2370 | 8.31 |
Burnett's 2015 Steamer projections predict the veteran will go 10-10 with a 4.06 ERA and 147 strikeouts, which would give him 2,517 for his career, good enough for 30th on the all-time list behind one-time teammate Javier Vazquez (2,536).
Burnett, who has never been named an All-Star in his 16-year career, lost nearly a full mile per hour off his fastball in 2014 (from 92.4 to 91.7) but did pitch through a sports hernia injury that resulted in offseason surgery.
Some of Burnett's other career accomplishments include:
- A no-hitter vs. the San Diego Padres on May 12, 2001.
- Won the World Series with the New York Yankees in 2009.
- Led American League in strikeouts (231) in 2008 as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.
- Enters 2015 with 155-150 career record with a 4.04 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.
Burnett's lack of success in the postseason (2-3, 6.37 ERA, 1.59 WHIP in eight starts) is a major reason why he's never been considered one of the elite pitchers in the game, but he has one last shot for redemption if the Bucs can get back to the playoffs for a third consecutive season.