Former University of Tennessee infielder Chris Burke was signed to a minor-league contract by the Atlanta Braves.
Burke was recently released by the San Diego Padres after he was outrighted to Class AAA Portland on June 9.
Burke made his first appearance with Class AAA Gwinnett on Friday and pinch-hit in the sixth inning against Louisville. Burke, who is from Louisville, struck out.
The crowed gave Burke a nice hand as he approached the plate.
“He’s very popular,” said Louisville manager Rick Sweet told The Courier Journal, adding that the Bats’ parent Cincinnati Reds took a serious look at Burke. “He’s a good guy.”
Burke has played parts of six seasons in the Major Leagues with Houston, Arizona, and San Diego. He played in 32 games for the Padres this season, hitting .207.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 9
pms151 writes:
Chris blew it at Houston where he was the number one draft choice. Phil Garner and others went out of their way to give him a chance, but he could never take advantage of it. Many fans down here thought that he didn't have the mental toughness required of a MLB player and that his family was always tying to interfere. Ironic though, that the Braves signed him. His legendary home run sent them packing in the NL playoffs in 2005 helping to insure Houston's first ever WS. The longest playoff game ever played and a classic in every Astros' fan's mind. Good luck guy.
chargervol writes:
I thought his dad was a nice guy. I talked to him and Chris at the NCAA game they played against MTSU in Knoxville. He signed a ceiling tile for my brother-in-law. We talked to them for about thirty minutes or so after the game. Chris waited for my brother-in-law to go to his vehicle and get the tile so he could sign it. Anyway, I hope he gets his career jump-started again. He was a Vol afterall. GO VOLS!!!
andy112382#209793 writes:
If he could bat at least .240 or better, it would be an improvement over Kelly Johnson!!! Does he play 2B or SS mainly? I can't remember all of the sudden and am too lazy to look it up at the moment....
pms151 writes:
That was a major problem with him. He wanted to play 2B at all costs. Just did not have it at the time, especially with Biggio starting. They tried him almost everywhere, but when B retired he just did not have enough experience so they signed Kaz and the writing was on the wall. Also, no more Garner unfortunately for many reasons.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Gotcha, thanks for the refresher on his history. Well, the Braves have Escobar at SS and as long as he doesn't have the mental lapses he had last week on a regular basis, I would think he might be there a while.
2B on the other hand, I have been thinking they need to do SOMETHING about Johnson, he has really good stretches but way too streaky of a batter to help the offense on a refular basis.
Bigger_Al writes:
Come on Chris! I bought a signed Rookie Card, a bat, and a baseball at a Church auction three years ago, and I need you to make it worth my while!
Otherwise, the bat goes in the trunk (road-rage defense), the ball gets pitched to my 5-yr old in the back yard (he could be the next Chris Burke), and the Rookie Card becomes kindling in my backporch grate...
rclarkfork#639958 writes:
San Diego is trying to go young and just didn't have a place for him. He is a very good utility type player who can play a number of positions. Those type players are nice to have on a team and can keep teams from moving players up and down every time there is an injury. The Braves already have a couple of guys who fit in that category in Infante and Prado. Good luck Chris, hoping you can help.
suttree writes:
I'm a UT grad and huge Astro fan . . . I love Biggio but there is always someone's career who gets derailed when somebody is going for 3,000 hits. Biggio averaged 147 games and 140 hits his last 3 seasons . . . only a guy going for 3,000 gets to stick around the big leagues with those numbers . . unfortunately at Burke's expense.
Tough deal when you have to learn a new position (CF) while breaking into the big leagues. I can see why his bat suffered. Good luck Chris.
pms151 writes:
True, but you gotta keep an eye on how many of those type guys you carry on the 25. It can jump up and bite your minor league progress. Houston is a prime example of that this year. They have one of the highest payrolls in the game dominated by senior players and yet they keep people like Erstadt. Amazing; Burke, even with his weak bat, would have been a good guy to have not traded. They didn't even get anything for him. Sad.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.