A.J. Burnett insists this is his last season. After a down year with the Philadelphia Phillies last season, Burnett returned to Pittsburgh where he spent his two previous years under the tutelage of pitching coach Ray Searage. If Burnett does in fact retire after the season, he will retire a world champion, who threw a no-hitter, an immaculate inning and is a multimillionaire.
But one thing has been missing from Burnett’s career; an All-Star appearance.
Add that to the list now, as Burnett, 38, has been named to the National League All-Star team.
Burnett, a 17-year veteran, has a career-best 2.05 ERA on the season in 16 starts, and also sports a 1.225 WHIP, with 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings.
Burnett has a record of 7-3, which is one win away from matching his eight wins last season (but 18 losses) in an off-year with the Philadelphia Phillies where he sported a 4.59 ERA and a 1.409 WHIP. In his two years prior with the Pirates, Burnett had a 16-10 record in 2012 with a 3.51 ERA and a 1.241 WHIP while striking out a career-high 9.8 batters per nine innings. In 2013, Burnett had a 10-11 record with a 3.30 ERA and a 1.215 WHIP. Burnett, who won the World Series with the New York Yankees in 2009, will join teammate Gerrit Cole as Pirates starters to make the team.
