Following his remarkable performance on Opening Day, Corbin Burnes appears to be exactly the kind of pitcher the Orioles hoped to acquire this offseason.
This comes after the Orioles were one of the top teams in baseball last season, giving them the confidence to assert their dominance.
“I think last year, word got out pretty quick that the Baltimore Orioles are a legit team and no slouch in the American League East,” Orioles Hall of Famer Mike Bordick said on Glenn Clark Radio April 1.
It seems Burnes is the legitimate ace the team has long desired. Bordick believes the ace has the potential to make a significant impact on the Orioles’ rotation the way Mike Mussina did years ago.
“Great comparison with Mike Mussina,” said Bordick, now an analyst for 105.7 The Fan. “He had everybody on the edge of their seats because he always did great things. One of the most fun times I ever had playing baseball was playing behind Mike Mussina because he could locate, he could do anything he wanted with all of his pitches. It was just so much fun, and I think Corbin Burnes attracts the same kind of attention.”
Burnes completely controlled the Angels on Opening Day. In a span of six innings, the talented 6-foot-3, 246-pound right-hander only allowed one run, on a homer by Mike Trout. Not only did he issue no walks, but he also managed to strike out 11 batters. Burnes’ performance was truly remarkable, showcasing his exceptional cutter, slider and curveball. Burnes followed that outing with 5.2 innings of two-run ball against the Royals on April 3 in cold, rainy conditions.
With Burnes leading the way, it should allow other pitchers such as Grayson Rodriguez to settle into their roles.
“I think that this is going to do nothing but benefit Grayson Rodriguez, [Kyle] Bradish, [Tyler] Wells, all these pitchers,” Bordick said. “To witness one of the best pitchers in all of baseball every five days, to be able to talk to him, learn what he’s thinking about, how he goes through the lineup because he isn’t a one-trick pony. He’s got a full repertoire of pitches like all these guys do. … I just think how you approach every pitch with purpose, that’s what Corbin Burnes brings.”
