Chris Burke (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Alan Burke (born March 11, 1980 in Louisville, Kentucky
) is a Major League Baseball
player who is currently a free agent. Burke is known for his versatility; he has played every position except pitcher
and catcher.
, where he was named to three All-America
teams. In 1999, Burke was selected as a Freshman 2nd team All-American at second base. In 2000, in addition to being named a 3rd team All-American, he was named to the All-Southeastern Conference
team at second base.
In 2001, his junior year, Burke moved to shortstop and helped the Volunteers make an appearance in the College World Series
by hitting .435 with 30 home runs and 49 stolen bases, being named to the CWS all-tournament team. He was a 1st team All-American shortstop, and was the unanimous choice as the 2001 SEC Player of the Year. He was also a finalist for the 2001 Rotary Smith Award.
's Team MVP and a Texas League
All-Star after batting .301 with 3 home runs and 41 RBI. He played on the USA Baseball
Olympic qualifying team and was named the starting second baseman for the All-Star Futures Game
.
In 2004, Burke was named the Pacific Coast League
Rookie of the Year and the New Orleans Zephyrs
' team MVP in addition to being named to the All-PCL and AAA All-Star teams after hitting .315 with 16 home runs, 52 RBI, and 37 steals. He played in the All-Star Futures Game for the second straight year.
. He recorded his first Major League hit with a pinch-hit single on September 14 against the St. Louis Cardinals
.
Entering 2005, Burke was rated as the top prospect in the Astros system by Baseball America
. Burke started 2005 by making his first appearance on the Astros' Opening Day
roster, but was optioned to Round Rock on May 6. He batted .311 there before being recalled to the Astros on June 1. He finished the season batting .248 with 5 home runs and 26 RBI in 108 games. Burke had an 11-game hitting streak
from June 27-July 6, tied for the third-longest streak among NL rookies in 2005 and was the longest for an Astros rookie since Julio Lugo
's 14-game streak in 2000.
He hit the series-winning walk-off home run
off the Atlanta Braves
' Joey Devine
that ended Game 4 of the 2005 National League Division Series
. The game, which lasted 18 innings, took 5 hours and 50 minutes to play, stands as the longest playoff game in major league postseason history.
Burke began the 2007 season on the Astros' Opening Day roster, but was optioned to Round Rock on May 11. Burke did not hit particularly well (.242 BA) there, but with outfielder Jason Lane
struggling, Burke was recalled on June 3.
along with Chad Qualls
and Juan Gutierrez
for Jose Valverde
.
Burke was non-tendered following the season and became a free agent.
. After not making the team in Spring Training, Burke was traded to the Seattle Mariners
for cash considerations. However, on April 21, 2009 Burke was traded back to the Padres and was added to the major league roster. On June 19, 2009, Burke signed a minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves
.
. In the first week of Spring Training, Burke broke his finger.
of his duties as the Vols baseball coach in May, Burke's name had been at the top of the Tennessee wish list to become the next Head Coach of the Tennessee baseball program. He interviewed for the job, but the school decided hire Dave Serrano from Cal State Fullerton
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player who is currently a free agent. Burke is known for his versatility; he has played every position except pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
and catcher.
College
Burke played baseball at St. Albert the Great Elementary School and St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky and the University of TennesseeUniversity of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, where he was named to three All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
teams. In 1999, Burke was selected as a Freshman 2nd team All-American at second base. In 2000, in addition to being named a 3rd team All-American, he was named to the All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
team at second base.
In 2001, his junior year, Burke moved to shortstop and helped the Volunteers make an appearance in the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
by hitting .435 with 30 home runs and 49 stolen bases, being named to the CWS all-tournament team. He was a 1st team All-American shortstop, and was the unanimous choice as the 2001 SEC Player of the Year. He was also a finalist for the 2001 Rotary Smith Award.
Professional career
Burke was the Houston Astros' first overall pick in the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft as the 10th overall selection. In 2003, Burke was named Round RockRound Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
's Team MVP and a Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
All-Star after batting .301 with 3 home runs and 41 RBI. He played on the USA Baseball
USA Baseball
USA Baseball was founded in , and is the governing body for amateur baseball in the United States of America. It is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and organizes the United States national baseball team...
Olympic qualifying team and was named the starting second baseman for the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
.
In 2004, Burke was named the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
Rookie of the Year and the New Orleans Zephyrs
New Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
' team MVP in addition to being named to the All-PCL and AAA All-Star teams after hitting .315 with 16 home runs, 52 RBI, and 37 steals. He played in the All-Star Futures Game for the second straight year.
Houston Astros
Burke made his MLB debut on July 4, 2004 against the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. He recorded his first Major League hit with a pinch-hit single on September 14 against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
Entering 2005, Burke was rated as the top prospect in the Astros system by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
. Burke started 2005 by making his first appearance on the Astros' Opening Day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
roster, but was optioned to Round Rock on May 6. He batted .311 there before being recalled to the Astros on June 1. He finished the season batting .248 with 5 home runs and 26 RBI in 108 games. Burke had an 11-game hitting streak
Hitting streak
In baseball, a hitting streak refers to the number of consecutive official games in which a player gets at least one base hit.According to the Official Baseball Rules, such a streak is ended when a player has at least 1 plate appearance and no hits...
from June 27-July 6, tied for the third-longest streak among NL rookies in 2005 and was the longest for an Astros rookie since Julio Lugo
Julio Lugo
Julio Cesar Lugo is a Dominican professional baseball infielder but is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. Lugo is the older brother of baseball pitcher Ruddy Lugo....
's 14-game streak in 2000.
He hit the series-winning walk-off home run
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
off the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
' Joey Devine
Joey Devine
Joseph Neal "Joey" Devine is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.-Atlanta Braves:...
that ended Game 4 of the 2005 National League Division Series
2005 National League Division Series
-Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros:-Game 1, October 4:Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriIt was a matchup between Jake Peavy and eventual 2005 Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter. In the bottom of the first, Jim Edmonds's one-out solo homer put the Cardinals up 1–0...
. The game, which lasted 18 innings, took 5 hours and 50 minutes to play, stands as the longest playoff game in major league postseason history.
Burke began the 2007 season on the Astros' Opening Day roster, but was optioned to Round Rock on May 11. Burke did not hit particularly well (.242 BA) there, but with outfielder Jason Lane
Jason Lane
Jason Dean Lane is a Major League Baseball outfielder in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He was drafted out of the sixth round in . Lane graduated from El Molino High School in Forestville, California in 1995...
struggling, Burke was recalled on June 3.
Arizona Diamondbacks
On December 14, 2007, he was traded to the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
along with Chad Qualls
Chad Qualls
Chadford Michael Qualls is a relief pitcher.-Astros:Qualls was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros. He began his career as a starting pitcher with the Michigan Battle Cats in...
and Juan Gutierrez
Juan Gutiérrez (baseball)
Juan Carlos Gutiérrez nicknamed the goot is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Baseball career:...
for Jose Valverde
José Valverde
José Rafael Valverde is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. His nickname is Papa Grande...
.
Burke was non-tendered following the season and became a free agent.
2009 season
On January 13, , he signed a minor league contract with the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. After not making the team in Spring Training, Burke was traded to the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
for cash considerations. However, on April 21, 2009 Burke was traded back to the Padres and was added to the major league roster. On June 19, 2009, Burke signed a minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.
2010 season
Burke signed a minor league contract on December 10, 2009 with the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. In the first week of Spring Training, Burke broke his finger.
2011
After Burke's alma mater The University of Tennessee relieved Todd RaleighTodd Raleigh
Todd Raleigh is a collegiate baseball coach who led the Tennessee Volunteers baseball team for the 2008-2011 seasons. Prior to that position, he was the head coach at Western Carolina, his alma mater.-Year-by-year head coaching record:-External links:*...
of his duties as the Vols baseball coach in May, Burke's name had been at the top of the Tennessee wish list to become the next Head Coach of the Tennessee baseball program. He interviewed for the job, but the school decided hire Dave Serrano from Cal State Fullerton