Burke, according to the Associated Press, struck the wall during a Friday game against the Houston Astros out of displeasure. His hand seems like it broke from the incident. It was the hand he didn’t throw. Austin Pruitt, who was formerly with Triple-A Round Rock, is now being called up by the Rangers to the squad to replace Burke.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy reportedly stated, “We want our guys, our athletes to be competitive and hate to lose, but with that passion there’s a fine edge, and when you cross that line there’s going to be consequences.” And what transpired there was just witnessed. “And we just saw what happened there. You love the fact that he was upset with not helping the club last night … but it just wasn’t a smart move.
Burke struggled for the Rangers on Friday against the Astros. The hurler gave up four earned runs on three hits, during the seventh inning of Friday’s game. The Rangers actually went on to win, 12-8. It was the second consecutive rough outing for the reliever. He had given up three hits and an earned run against the Astros on April 8.
Burke is struggling this season. He has a 15.00 earned run average this campaign in five appearances for the club. He’s totaled three innings of work for the Rangers, who have a 8-6 mark on the year.
While it makes sense for a pitcher to become frustrated, it is regrettable when that frustration results in a serious injury, such as striking a wall. Burke was supposed to pitch several innings in relief for the Rangers this season as they attempt to make it back to the Major League Baseball playoffs. For the first time in franchise history, the team emerged victorious in the 2023 World Series.
“Obviously he regrets it,” Bochy added. “Sometimes you don’t have time to think about what the consequences may be. You’re just that upset and that frustrated. That’s the passion to do well (and) hate to lose. It’s not the first time I’ve seen it.”
In his career, Burke has a 12-10 record, with appearances in 116 games. He has pitched for 171 plus innings, with 161 career strikeouts. The pitcher has also posted a career 3.88 earned run average in his career. He has pitched for the Rangers since he entered the MLB in 2019.
The Rangers play the Houston Astros again on Saturday. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 Eastern. The Astros are 4-11 on the year.
