Former Chicago White Sox top prospect right-handed pitcher Sean Burke is predicted to have a breakout season in 2025.
The Chicago White Sox will most likely finish the 2025 season at the bottom of the American League Central standings again for the second straight year and possibly be one of the worst teams in all of baseball. However, even though the White Sox as a whole may be bad, some individual players may find success and stand out amongst the others and have their own breakout seasons. One of those players predicted to have a breakout season is top prospect Sean Burke.
Sean Burke
The 25-year-old Burke was drafted by the White Sox in the third round of the 2021 June MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of Maryland. Making his Major League debut with the White Sox on September 10th, 2024 in which he allowed one unearned run in three innings of work against divisional rival the Cleveland Guardians, Burke has a lot to prove in what will be his sophomore season in the Major Leagues.
What’s the Plan for Burke in 2025?
Spending most of his season last year down in the minor leagues after dealing with rotator cuff tendinitis last season which severely limited Burke in 2023 and for some parts of 2024. Burke ended up making his return sometime around May of last year. Upon his return to Triple-A, Burke made 16 starts where he went 2-6 with a 4.62 ERA, with 86 strikeout, holding opposing batters to a .199 average, in 64.1 innings pitched. right-hander Sean Burke is an interesting case for the starting rotation coming into 2025.
Having a decent showing in his appearances during his stint at Triple-A the White Sox calling up Sean Burke to the big leagues on September 10th, replacing fellow right-handed Nick Nastrini on the roster who the Chicago White Sox optioned to Triple-A.
When Burke got called up to the big leagues, he he made three starts (four games total), 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA, collecting 22 strikeouts, having a 1.000 WHIP, in 19.0 innings pitched. Not bad for another rookie who looks to replicate, or at the very least get near those numbers in 2025, Burke figures to be vying for the fourth or fifth spots in the rotation with the upside of being solid number three option at some point.
Burke has the standard four pitch repertoire of a fastball that can reach up to 97, as well as having a slider, curveball (he uses a knuckle-curve), and a changeup giving Burke a solid pitch mix. The one knack on Burke is his ability to throw strikes which could cause a problem for him if he wants to be a consistent everyday starter. In order for Burke to have success he will need to show the ability to throw consistent strikes, and if he does than he figures to be a solid middle of the rotation piece.
If Burke can replicate what he did when he first came up with flashing how dominant he can be, then that would be a step in the right direction for his development. All Sean Burke needs to do to find success is to be able to replicate his delivery and throw consistent strikes, if he can do that then the Chicago White Sox have a really good starting pitcher on their hands. If for some reason Sean Burke can do that consistently and doesn’t pan out as a starter, then the Chicago White Sox could potentially look to flip him in a trade, or at the very least have a very solid multi-inning reliever on their hands.
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