How a new cutter and sharper command transformed this White Sox ace
The frontline starter has blown past his projections.
Pitcher Sean Burke, a White Sox ace, has transformed his game with a new cutter and sharper command. Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft, Burke spent several years in the minors before making his debut on September 10, 2024. He was named the Opening Day starter the following year but struggled initially, with a 4-11 record and a 4.22 ERA in 134.1 innings.
This season, however, Burke has shown significant improvement. MLB.com's Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru reports that he has added a new pitch to his repertoire, a cutter that has greatly enhanced his command. He has also worked on stabilizing his delivery, leading to more pitches unfolding on his terms. Burke is now averaging more than one strikeout per inning and has the career-lowest BB/9 rate. His July performance, with 5 strikeouts, 1.14 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, and 11.25 K/BB, highlights his impressive season.
By introducing this new cutter, Burke makes it harder for opposing batters to predict his next move. The cutter shares a similar velocity and location with his fastball, creating an additional challenge for batters, particularly left-handed ones who must contend with its movement and the difficulty of hitting it inside.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
