Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Starting pitcher Michael Fiers was outstanding at times for the Milwaukee Brewers last season. However, after a dismal Spring Training and a rough outing on April 6, the Brewers had no choice but to send Fiers down to Triple-A. On the bright side, Hiram Burgos will make his Major League Baseball debut on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
The 25-year-old absolutely deserves this great opportunity after what he has accomplished over the past six weeks. Burgos was good in Spring Training as he went 1-1 with a 3.48 earned run average and six strikeouts in three games (two starts). However, the real reason he is getting the nod is because he has really excelled his play in Triple-A this season.
Burgos is 0-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 15 strikeouts and 16 2/3 innings in three starts. The two losses are a bit misleading because he did not get a good amount of run support in his outings. The fact that Burgos was already scheduled to pitch on Saturday in Triple-A is another reason why the Brewers decided to go with him.
The right-hander from Cayey, Puerto Rico was drafted by Milwaukee in the sixth round of the 2009 MLB Draft. This past spring was the first time he was invited to camp as a member of the 40-man roster. Burgos has worked his way up from the Rookie league to Triple-A, while spending time at every level since 2009.
Expect to see good things come from Burgos when he takes the mound Saturday, as he does not plan on squandering his chance in the big leagues.
Meanwhile, Fiers will take his 0-1 record, 8.59 ERA and one measly strikeout to the minors where he will work on his mechanics. Fiers is scheduled to start Saturday in Triple-A, which means Milwaukee intends to fix him up so they can bring him back up to the majors. The good news is Fiers is taking the demotion with a positive outlook.
“They’re sending me to Nashville. It’s not the end of the world. I still need to pitch better and prove myself there and come back up and pitch again. It’s on me to pitch well and get back up here as soon as possible,” Fiers told Brewers.com.
Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
