Andy burns he remembers all about his six at-bats as a member of the Blue Jays in 2016. He remembers the dates, the opponents, and he can tell you the pitching sequences that ran on each of those trips to the plate. .
Burns, who this year signed a contract with the Dodgers, he has had plenty of time to think about those plate appearances, as Saturday was the first time he prepared for a game of Big leagues In almost five years. He was hoping to have more at-bats in the majors, but his journey turned out to be different than he originally thought.
The 30-year-old infielder played two seasons for the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization. He then returned to the United States to play Triple-A in the Blue Jays organization in 2019 and spent the ’20 season on Toronto’s roster at the alternate training site. Burns even spent a couple of months in Australia, just to get more at-bats.
This offseason, Burns signed with the Dodgers to a minor league contract. He made the Dodgers notice by hitting .330 this season at Triple-A Oklahoma City. And when Max Muncy fell with a right oblique injury during Friday’s game, the Dodgers knew they had a decision to make.
On Saturday, all of Burns’ hard work and long drives finally paid off. He was added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster and was the starting second baseman in a 12-1 loss to the Rangers on Saturday at Dodger Stadium.
“It’s been a five-year journey to get back to this point,” Burns said before Saturday’s game. “Lots of blood, sweat and tears and challenges. Seeing him complete the circle is really special. “
To make the day even better for Burns, when he looks back on his seventh at-bat in the majors, it will be a much more pleasant memory than the previous six he has been thinking about for the past five years. In his first at-bat with the Dodgers, Burns grounded out to shortstop, but it wasn’t handled by Isiah Kiner-Falefa. However, it was going to be a difficult play even if it had been fielded fairly, which is why it was considered a hit.
As he ran past first, Burns turned around and had a big smile on his face. It has been a difficult road for Burns, but he was able to experience a special moment with his wife and newborn daughter, who were present on Saturday.
“You are never given anything in this game and you have to win it all,” Burns said. “Over the last five years, just working every day and knowing that this is what you are striving to do. Achieving that is great, but I also want to achieve more. “
In the ninth, Burns managed to create even more memories. With the game out of control, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts took to the mound to make a pitching change. What Burns didn’t know was that they were going to ask him to take the ball.
Burns allowed two runs and three hits, but struck out pitcher Josh Sborz to end the inning. He became the first position player in the expansion era to pitch in a game in which he recorded his first major league hit.
“I asked him if he wanted to make history,” Roberts told Burns. “He said, ‘Let’s do it.’
It will be a night that Burns will remember for a long time.
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