WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Mike Burrows will take the mound for his second Grapefruit League appearance Saturday when the Houston Astros face the Pittsburgh Pirates at noon at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.
The outing carries added significance, as Burrows will face the organization that drafted and developed him before trading him to Houston in December.
Burrows made an impressive spring debut on February 22, throwing two scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals with two strikeouts and one walk. Today he’ll get extended work against his former team.
The 26-year-old right-hander was one of the Astros’ most notable offseason acquisitions—a controllable starter with upside and team control through 2031.
Facing His Former Team
The Pirates selected Burrows in the 11th round of the 2018 draft out of high school in Connecticut. He spent nearly eight years in the organization, debuting in 2024 and emerging as a rotation piece in 2025.
After the trade, Burrows shared a message of gratitude on social media, thanking the organization for taking “a chance on a kid from Connecticut back in 2018” and expressing appreciation for the coaches, teammates, and fans who supported him.
Now he’ll face that club for the first time.
The Trade That Brought Him to Houston
The Astros acquired Burrows from Pittsburgh on December 19 in a three-team deal that also included the Tampa Bay Rays. Houston sent outfielder Jacob Melton and right-hander Anderson Brito in exchange for the young starter.
With Framber Valdez departing in free agency and the 2025 rotation strained by injuries, Burrows addresses a clear need.
What He Showed in 2025
Burrows posted a 3.94 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 96 innings last season, making 19 starts and four relief appearances. He struck out 97 batters against 31 walks, producing a 16.7 percent strikeout-minus-walk rate.
Following Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2023 season, Pittsburgh managed his workload carefully. Houston is expected to continue building him up this spring.
The Arsenal
Burrows features five pitches, anchored by a changeup that ranked among the most effective in baseball last season.
- Changeup (24% usage): Opponents hit .147 against it with a 43.1 percent whiff rate. Baseball Savant credited him with a +9 offspeed run value, ranking in the 97th percentile.
- Slider (20% usage): Limited hitters to a .203 average with a 26.8 percent whiff rate, used primarily against right-handed batters.
- Four-seam fastball (39% usage): Averaged 95.5 mph but was hit hard (.326 opponent average, .529 slugging). Refining fastball usage — potentially incorporating more two-seam/sinker — represents a clear development focus.
- Curveball (12% usage): Inconsistent in 2025, though he continues working to sharpen its shape and command.
He also posted a 41 percent groundball rate while allowing 1.22 home runs per nine innings.
What to Watch Saturday
After a clean two-inning debut against the Cardinals (0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K), Burrows will face a stiffer test against his former team. Expect a longer outing this time — likely 3-4 innings or 50-60 pitches as the team continues building him up through spring.
Watch for:
- Emotion vs. execution: Can he stay focused facing former teammates, or will the moment get to him?
- Changeup effectiveness: Can he get swings-and-misses against Pirates hitters who saw him all last season?
- Fastball usage: Will he show more sinker/two-seam in his mix, or will he lean heavily on the four-seamer?
- Command: His 7.7% walk rate was excellent in 2025. Can he throw strikes consistently?
- Confidence: Is he attacking hitters with his best stuff, or pitching tentatively?
The Bigger Picture
Burrows enters a rotation mix that includes Hunter Brown, Tatsuya Imai, Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr., Spencer Arrighetti, and Ryan Weiss. Houston has the depth to consider a six-man alignment to manage innings.
Given the acquisition cost and long-term control, Burrows projects firmly into the rotation. Saturday’s outing offers an early look at how he fits—against the team that helped shape him.
The Astros return to action Sunday at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches against the Pittsburgh Pirates. First pitch is set for 12:05 CT. Full spring training schedule details are available here.