DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Former Bethune-Cookman pitching star Hiram Burgos is well on his way to becoming part of a very select group of Wildcats, as he's positioned himself with an opportunity to join Major League Baseball's (MLB) Milwaukee Brewers on the April 1 opening day as part of the 25-man active roster.
A 2009 B-CU graduate, Burgos reported to spring training with the Brewers on Feb. 12 at Maryvale Baseball Park, as part of the organization's 40-man roster, joining Wes Timmons and Mark Woodyard as the Wildcats' most recent players with a chance to go to "The Show".
Since 1972, the Wildcats have guided 30 players to MLB Draft pick status, with Stan Jefferson being the first to break out of the minor leagues into Major League Baseball. Jefferson departed then Bethune-Cookman College as a first-round pick by the New York Mets in the 1983 MLB Draft, playing six seasons in the outfield on baseball's biggest stage.
A 2002 B-CC graduate, Timmons spent 11 seasons in the Atlanta and Oakland minor league systems, before retiring this year for the coaching ranks. Woodyard (B-CU, 2000) spent eight seasons in the minors and pitched for the Detroit Tigers in 2005, as the Wildcats' most recent MLB Wildcats player.
During the Wildcats' season-opening series with Arizona State, Burgos joined the squad at Packard Stadium to root on his alma mater, reacquaint himself with former teammates and make a formal introduction with second-year head coach Jason Beverlin.
"Right now it's a great experience and a great opportunity to be there and to fight for a spot," Burgos said during his visit to ASU's Packard Stadium. "It's been great so far. It's an awesome team right now."
"The Milwaukee Brewers keep their players together, and it's great to be there," Burgos said. "I'm just working hard right now, and I'll let them make a choice in the end."
The fourth-year player has already jumped into the mix for the organization's major league consideration, starting the third spring training game for the Brewers, facing San Diego on Monday, Feb. 25. Against the Padres, Burgos threw 2 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs, while striking out two batters and not allowing a walk.
In addition to earning the early starting nod, the 2013 Brewers league system Pitcher of the Year will join a group of 14 players, an MLB-high, to be sent by the Brewers to March's World Baseball Classic (WBC), where Burgos will represent his home country of Puerto Rico.
"It's an honor and a great opportunity to represent my country of Puerto Rico," Burgos told the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. "The whole world will be watching those games, and we will be playing back in home in Puerto Rico. So, I will have a chance to play in front of my family and friends."
Team Puerto Rico will begin play in the WBC on March 7 in the San Juan Pool C, paired with the Dominican Republic, Spain and Venezuela.
Burgos earned his position in 2013 spring training after an outstanding 2012 season with the Nashville Sounds (Triple-A Pacific Coast League), finishing with a 2-2 record and an ERA of 2.91. During his three-year minor league career, he has tallied a 10-4 record and 1.95 ERA.
Burgos was selected by the Brewers in the sixth round of the 2009 MLB Draft.
"Bethune-Cookman is a great baseball program and a great university," Burgos said. "I know that prepared [me] to be a professional baseball player. For me, I went to college and that prepared [me]. I was older, grown up more and it actually helped me out a lot to be successful in the minor leagues."
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