{"id":23952,"date":"2025-01-06T02:09:34","date_gmt":"2025-01-06T02:09:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=23952"},"modified":"2025-01-06T02:09:34","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T02:09:34","slug":"former-auburn-tigers-pitcher-named-an-atlanta-braves-prospect-to-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=23952","title":{"rendered":"Former Auburn Tigers Pitcher Named an Atlanta Braves Prospect to Watch"},"content":{"rendered":"
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An Atlanta Braves beat writer sees the former Tiger as a potential addition to the Braves bullpen in 2025<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A former Auburn Tigers pitcher has been mentioned as an MLB prospect to watch next season. Atlanta Braves beat writer for MLB.com Mark Bowman tabbed for Tiger Blake Burkhalter over some other notable prospects in the system.<\/p>\n

Bowman likes Burkhalter as a potential addition to the bullpen, even though he\u2019s been a starter in the pros so far.<\/p>\n

While he also discussed some other higher-rated prospects who could also be worth checking in on, Bowman emphasized Burkhalter\u2019s ability to limit baserunners compared to the others.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe right-hander, Atlanta\u2019s No. 19 prospect, posted a 2.14 ERA over his first nine starts for High-A Rome this year and then seemed to fatigue over his final five starts. Drue Hackenberg (No. 9), Jhancarlos Lara (No. 14) and Luis De Avila (No. 15) are other pitching prospects to keep an eye on, especially if the Braves don\u2019t find external options to fill bullpen voids. But for now, Burkhalter is the only member of this group who hasn\u2019t produced a concerning walk rate,\u201d Bowman wrote.<\/p>\n

Burkhalter made Auburn\u2019s team as a walk-on before the shortened 2020 season, then made significant strides as Hudson continued to serve as his alma mater\u2019s pitching coach the past two seasons. Burkhalter picked up 16 saves en route to the Tigers reaching the College World Series in June 2022.<\/p>\n

Over three seasons, Burkhalter made 51 appearances out of the bullpen for Auburn. He finished his collegiate career with a 3.01 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 71 2\/3 innings pitched.<\/p>\n

The Braves took the Tigers pitcher in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft.<\/p>\n

For the 2023 Braves\u2019 Spring Training season, he was a non-roster invite.<\/p>\n

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Atlanta #Braves<\/a> Announce 2023 Spring Training Non-Roster Invitees: pic.twitter.com\/kX5SRMvtMm<\/a><\/p>\n

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) February 1, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n