Former Louisville baseball stars Nick and Zack Burdi took similarly grueling journeys to the big league. How the brothers overcame years of brutal injuries for triumphant returns.
Perhaps the two greatest closers to step foot on the campus for Louisville baseball have been brothers, Nick and Zack Burdi. Both hailing out of the Chicago area, the Burdi brothers anchored some of the best Louisville baseball teams the school has ever seen. Nick currently leads the program with 34 all-time saves while Zack has 21 of his own.
It was not all smooth sailing after college, however.
Nick was drafted in the second round of the 2014 draft. Pick number 46 by the Minnesota Twins. At the time, he was the highest draft pick in Louisville baseball history. He hit the ground running and he seemed to be on the fast track to the Major League squad in Minneapolis.
A complicated start for Nick Burdi
Nick missed the majority of the 2016 season with a nagging bone bruise. Although healthy heading into the 2017 season, he ended up tearing his UCL in May. This would result in Tommy John Surgery and the beginning of bouncing around numerous organizations. After missing the 2017 season, the Minnesota Twins placed Burdi on waivers and he was eventually picked up by the Philadelphia Phillies in the Rule 5 draft. On that same day, he would be traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
2018 was spent recovering from Tommy John before he made his Major League debut for the Pirates in September. He made a pair of appearances, tossing 1.1 innings.
Heading into 2019, Nick figured to be a key part of the Pirates bullpen. He was named to the Opening Day roster, but once again saw himself bit by the injury bug.
Nick was placed on the IL on April 23rd and was eventually diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, an injury that limited blood flow to essential areas of the body. He would undergo season ending surgery and set his sights to 2020.
Of course, the pandemic threw off the season for everyone but when the season began, Nick was poised to be the Pirates closer.
On August 3rd 2020, Nick threw his final in game pitch for over two years, as he ended up falling on the mound with severe elbow pain.
Two days later, Nick underwent his second Tommy John Surgery.
Zack Burdi’s road to sucess
Zack followed a similar career trajectory to his brother Nick. A legendary 2016 Louisville baseball draft class member, Zack was drafted 26th overall by the Chicago White Sox.
Just like Nick, Zack appeared to be on the fast track to the South Side. In fact, he reached Triple-A in 2016, just two months after being drafted.
Zack was primed for a 2017 Major League debut. That is until July when he felt elbow pain. Just like Nick, Zack was headed for Tommy John Surgery and it would keep him out for a significant amount of time.
Zack was ready to go in the 2019 season but needed to backtrack a little on his road to recovery. He would be sent to Double-A Birmingham, where he once again fell to a season-ending injury.
In late June of 2019, it was announced that he would miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his knee.
Despite the injuries, the arm talent has always been there. The White Sox saw it too and selected him to the 40-man roster in the winter of 2019.
After a long wait due to the pandemic, the 2020 season got underway in late July and Zack finally heard his number called in Chicago.
On August 8th, 2020, Zack made his Major League debut and worked a scoreless inning in Chicago.
Over the next two seasons, he would find himself going back and forth between Charlotte and Chicago, struggling to return to form at the Major League level.
In late 2021, Zack would be let go by the White Sox and eventually claimed by the Orioles. He threw one scoreless outing in Baltimore before being designated for assignment.
Arizona had picked up Burdi but he would not throw one pitch for the organization, as once again injury struck. This time an undisclosed injury ended his time with the club, as he was waived in March of 2022.
He would eventually sign on with Washington on a Minor League deal to rehab and eventually made a few appearances in late 2022 for their High-A affiliate.
All of this sets the stage for 2023. Both Burdi brothers have been through the ringer and this season was seen as one last chance for them to return to Major League Baseball.
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A prove-it year for Louisville baseball stars
Nick was a Rule 5 pick by the Chicago Cubs in December, picked up from the Padres, who he signed with in December of 2020.
Zack was a free agent signing by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Both had received an invite to Spring Training.
Finally healthy, 2023 turned into a prove-it year for the brothers.
Nick, now 30 years old, still runs the fastball up to triple digits. Zack, now 28, has reinvented himself and also can still run the fastball up like his brother.
While both saw good results in the spring, they would both be optioned to their Triple-A affiliates; Zack to Durham and Nick to Des Moines. It would not take long for them to receive the call, however.
On April 26th, the Tampa Bay Rays purchased the contract of Zack Burdi. After not being in a Major League game since 2021, Zack came out and threw two scoreless outings, one against his former team, the White Sox. He flashed the same swing-and-miss stuff that he always has, striking out four over three innings of work.
Just like his brother, it was only a matter of time before Nick got the Big League call.
Nick was promoted on May 15th, joining the Cubs for their trip to Houston, and on Tuesday night he made his return.
After not pitching in a Major League game for over 1,000 days, Nick Burdi was back on the mound, pitching against the Astros.
After allowing a pair of runs, Nick finished off the inning with a strikeout to all-star Kyle Tucker.
It was not about the line though. Burdi has put together the most impressive comeback story in baseball this year. A competition where the only competitor may be his own brother.
It has been a long-awaited return for both Burdi brothers. One that has been years in the making.
Now fully healthy, Nick and Zack appear to be poised to be a force in their respective teams’ bullpen.
