The Milwaukee Brewers knew that starting pitching was going to be a huge question mark going into the 2024 MLB season. Brandon Woodruff was expected to be out for the season due to a shoulder injury that also kept him on the shelf for most of the 2023 season. Additionally, the Brewers decided to trade their ace, 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner, Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles.
In return for their ace, who is scheduled to become a free agent after this season, Milwaukee received left-handed pitcher DL Hall and infielder Joey Ortiz. Hall made the Brewers’ Opening Day roster, but struggled early and is currently on the Injured List. However, Ortiz (who also made the Opening Day roster) is currently third in All-Star voting among National League third basemen (vote here) and is the reigning NL Rookie of the Month.
Needless to say, so far both teams have benefitted greatly from the trade, though Milwaukee has the potential to benefit far beyond this year while Baltimore could lose Burnes to free agency after this year.
The former Brewers’ ace, though, is certainly giving Orioles’ fans a great deal to cheer about this year.
Former Milwaukee Brewers Ace Corbin Burnes Is Having a Great Year for the Baltimore Orioles
As mentioned, Hall is currently on the IL while Ortiz is lighting it up at third base to the tune of a .282/.382/.475 slash line with six home runs and 27 RBI.
Meanwhile, Burnes is being his usual brilliant self with the Orioles. He is currently 8-2 with a 2.14 ERA in 15 starts for Baltimore. Burnes has pitched 92.2 innings and has struck out 89 batters.
The most games Burnes won in a season with the Brewers was 12 in 2022, a year that he also had eight losses, a 2.94 ERA, and led the National League with 243 strikeouts. It is safe to say that he is well ahead of the pace it would take for him to set a career-high in wins this year.
Former Milwaukee Brewers Pitcher Corbin Burnes Made MLB History Over the Weekend
There is no question that, once he hits free agency, Burnes is going to become one of the highest paid pitchers in all of baseball. This is, of course, why the Brewers traded him in the first place. They would never be able to afford him.
Burnes increased his possible price tag over the weekend by making a bit of Major League Baseball history:
Corbin Burnes of the @Orioles is the first pitcher in the modern era with at least 5.0 innings pitched, three runs allowed or fewer and three walks allowed or fewer in each of his first 14 starts with any team. pic.twitter.com/BACZ2YJNZH
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) June 16, 2024
As said previously, there is a reason Burnes is going to cost so much. He is a generational talent.
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