LOS ANGELES – While Issac Morales got his professional baseball career off to a promising beginning on Tuesday, another former Golden Eagle pitcher is set to make his first Major League Baseball start on Thursday.
Mike Burns, who earned All-California Collegiate Athletic Association honors twice for Cal State L.A. in 1999 and 2000, is starting later today for the Milwaukee Brewers against the Minnesota Twins. Burns, originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the 30th round in 2000, has made 46 Major League appearances for Houston, Cincinnati and Boston – all in relief. He signed with Milwaukee in the off-season.
Burns pitched four scoreless innings for the Brewers earlier this month, but has spent the bulk of the 2009 season with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, where he is 7-2 with a 2.55 earned run average in 12 starts. He was recalled by the Brewers on Wednesday to make the start on Thursday.
“I’m really excited,” Burns told MLB.com. “I’ve spent all; my time (in the Majors) in the bullpen, so it’s going to be fun.”
Burns, who began his Cal State L.A. career as a shortstop, earned 13 wins as a pitcher over his final three seasons with the Golden Eagles. He was 5-3 with a 3.26 earned run average in 1999 as a junior and was 5-5 with a 3.44 earned run average as a senior in 2000.
He made his Major League debut for the Astros in 2005 and he also made relief appearances in 2006 for the Reds and Red Sox. He pitched in the Cubs’ minor league system in 2008 and was signed by the Brewers in January.
Morales, who recorded a 24-8 record in his just-completed four-year Cal State L.A. career, tossed two scoreless innings on Tuesday for the Gulf Coast League Marlins. Morales, who finished his collegiate career with more wins than any pitcher in the program’s history, was selected by the Marlins in the 34th round. He came on in relief and allowed one hit, walked one and struck out five in his first two innings of work.
Travis Tartamella, meanwhile, has reported to the Johnson City Cardinals and is awaiting his first playing action. He was taken in the 19
th round by the St. Louis Cardinals after a brilliant season as catcher for the Golden Eagles. He earned All-CCAA and All-West Region honors for Cal State L.A.
Henry Contreras, another Cal State L.A. catcher who was drafted in 2008 by the Seattle Mariners in the 24th round, is back with the Arizona League Mariners. He hit .345 for the club in 2008.
Derrick Loop, who was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2006 and signed by Boston after pitching in an independent league in 2008, is having a solid year with the Salem Red Sox. He is 3-3 with a 2.30 earned run average and appeared in the Carolina League-California League All-Star game earlier this week in Lake Elsinore.
Two other Golden Eagles, Darrick Hale and Dustin Birosak, are currently with Golden Baseball League teams. Hale is playing for the Chico Outlaws, while Birosak is with the Long Beach Armada.