Maryland’s baseball program had a green tent behind the left-field wall that contained batting cages and mounds. Then-Maryland baseball coach Rob Vaughn described it as a “grimy, gritty little practice facility.”
But on this frigid January day in 2019, he found future White Sox starter Sean Burke, who was still unable to pitch as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. Burke was using the portable mound to go through his pre-pitch routine that he had developed with former Maryland pitching coach Corey Muscara. The attention to detail stuck with Vaughn, especially because Burke was only a freshman.
“I’m watching the deliberateness of the work, of something so minute,” Vaughn told the Sun-Times. “This guy couldn’t throw a baseball for another six months. But watching him go through his movement stuff, watching him go through all of this minutiae that so many young players just don’t give any value to.
‘‘He was doing all this on a side mound, not for any of us to see, but because he couldn’t do anything else at the time. And in that moment, you’re kind of looking at this guy, and you’re like, man, that’s just different.”
Burke’s preparation was professional, but because of circumstances, he didn’t get many opportunities to show his stuff in college.
That Tommy John surgery forced him to redshirt his freshman season at Maryland. He then started four games before the COVID-19 pandemic wrecked his redshirt freshman season. Burke’s redshirt sophomore year was his one true year of playing college baseball, and he threw 74⅓ innings in 13 starts and had a 3.27 ERA. His inexperience was why his Opening Day nod was such a surprise.
Whenever MLB scouts came to Maryland, Vaughn told them that Burke had the physical aptitude and makeup; he just needed the reps.
“I remember telling every scout I talked to that, ‘What is our loss is your gain because you are going to get the best versions of Sean Burke,’ ” Vaughn said. “He just needed to throw.”
The Sox are hoping Vaughn’s proclamations come to fruition as Burke is the Opening Day starter on Thursday against the Angels at Rate Field.
“Honestly, I was speechless,” Burke said. “It’s just such a huge honor.
‘‘Looking back at the people who took the ball on Opening Day for the White Sox, just to have my name added to that list is an honor, and I’m going to give it all I have.”
Burke possesses immense confidence, which comes from his preparation.During Burke’s sophomore season at Maryland, Vaughn noticed that the right-hander had to regain his competitiveness on the mound. He described Burke as a “freak athlete on the mound that loves to compete.”
Marrying the conviction with the work ethic allowed Burke to flourish during his standout redshirt sophomore season.
“When Sean got really elite, he prepared like a savage, but then he got on the mound and competed like the competitor he is,” Vaughn said.
The Sox got a glimpse of that competitive side of Burke when he made three starts last September with a 1.42 ERA and 22 strikeouts. At 6-6, he’s a physically imposing pitcher. He has the frame of a major-league starter.
“Last year, flashes of greatness,” first baseman Andrew Vaughn said. “He’s a special guy with a special arm. Excited to see him [on Thursday].”
Burke’s 19 innings in the majors are the fewest by any Sox starter on Opening Day, according to Elias. Patsy Flaherty previously held the distinction with 61 innings. Last season’s Opening Day starter, Garrett Crochet, had pitched 73 innings entering 2024.
If Burke is even close to a facsimile of Garrett Crochet, then general manager Chris Getz and his staff will look shrewd for staying with Burke. But there’s no guarantee that Burke will stay healthy or be able to maintain his 2024 success over a full season.
Because of injuries, Burke has thrown more than 100 innings in a season only once since being drafted. His confidence never wavered, however, even when he wasn’t particularly effective on the mound. Last season at Triple-A Charlotte, Burke had a 4.62 ERA. But through those difficult moments, Burke had the mental fortitude to persevere. He said dealing with the arm issues and inconsistency prepared him for the lows of this profession.
But Burke knows he belongs in a major league rotation, injuries have prevented him showing it. Now, on Thursday, he gets his first opportunity to prove it.
“I tell myself I’m here for a reason; I’m doing this for a reason,” Burke said. “I’m in the company I should be. It’s cool, and it’s super gratifying to see the names I’m up there with. I like to consider myself part of that company.”