Nick Burdi Bio
Nicholas Edward Burdi is an American professional baseball pitcher currently in the New York Mets organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox. Burdi first reached the major leagues in 2018 after a college career at the University of Louisville and has spent much of his professional journey recovering from arm injuries while remaining an effective late-inning reliever.
Known for a power fastball and a determined comeback story, Burdi has built his career on high-velocity pitching and resilience. He attended Downers Grove South High School in Illinois, was drafted twice, and has continued to compete at the top levels of professional baseball after multiple surgeries.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Edward Burdi was born on January 19, 1993, and grew up in Downers Grove, Illinois. As a youth, he played for the Downers Grove Longshots and attended Downers Grove South High School, where he pitched for the baseball team and played quarterback for the football team. Before his junior year, Burdi decided to quit football and concentrate fully on baseball.
Even as a high school student, Burdi could already throw his fastball around 95 miles per hour, which drew early attention from professional scouts. In the summer of 2010, he participated in the Area Code Games, an elite showcase that further established his reputation as a top pitching prospect. He was expected to be selected in the early rounds of the 2011 MLB Draft but ultimately lasted until the 24th round, when the Minnesota Twins chose him with the 748th overall pick. Burdi declined to sign and instead honored his commitment to play college baseball.
Path to Professional Baseball
After high school, Burdi enrolled at the University of Louisville, where he joined the Louisville Cardinals baseball program. Following the 2012 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, gaining valuable experience against high-level competition. By his sophomore year, his fastball had climbed to around 100 miles per hour, and he served as the Cardinals’ closer with a 0.78 earned run average and 61 strikeouts across 34 and two-thirds innings.
Burdi’s strong sophomore campaign led to an invitation to join the United States national collegiate baseball team. As a junior, he was equally dominant, posting a 0.49 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 37 innings. He then entered the 2014 MLB Draft, where the Minnesota Twins selected him in the second round with the 46th overall pick. Burdi signed with the Twins on June 25, 2014, and received a $1,218,800 signing bonus before reporting to the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Single-A Midwest League.
Nick Burdi Career
Early Career (2014-2017)
Burdi opened his professional career with the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2014, posting a 4.15 ERA in 13 innings before being promoted to the Fort Myers Miracle of the High-A Florida State League. He began 2015 with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Double-A Southern League but struggled early, posting a 5.93 ERA and being demoted back to Fort Myers in late June. After six weeks, the Twins promoted him again, and he finished the year strongly with a 1.77 ERA in 20 and one-third innings, later pitching in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions.
Burdi’s progress was slowed by injuries in 2016 and 2017. He threw only three innings in 2016 due to a bone bruise in his right elbow, and in May 2017, he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament. The procedure forced him to miss most of the 2017 season and set up one of the most demanding stretches of his career.
Pittsburgh Pirates Era (2018-2020)
On December 14, 2017, the Philadelphia Phillies selected Burdi in the Rule 5 draft and traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made his MLB debut on September 11, 2018, against the St. Louis Cardinals, but appeared in only two games during his rookie season, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks in one and one-third innings.
Burdi made the Pirates’ Opening Day roster in 2019 and posted a 9.35 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 8 and two-thirds innings across 11 appearances. On June 25, 2019, he underwent thoracic outlet surgery, ending his season. In 2020, he made just three appearances before a right elbow injury led to a platelet-rich plasma injection and, eventually, a second Tommy John surgery in October. The Pirates designated him for assignment in November 2020, and he elected free agency.
San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs (2020-2023)
On December 22, 2020, Burdi signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres. He did not play in 2021 while recovering from surgery, and he was released on April 21, 2022, after being assigned to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas. He re-signed with San Diego on May 4, 2022, and was later selected by the Chicago Cubs in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft on December 7, 2022.
Burdi returned from surgery in 2023, pitching in 11 games for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs with a 3.38 ERA, 19 strikeouts, and five saves. On May 15, 2023, the Cubs added him to the active roster, and he made three appearances before an emergency appendectomy led to an injured list placement on May 24. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 13, removed from the 40-man roster on November 2, and elected free agency on November 6.
New York Yankees Era (2024)
On December 21, 2023, Burdi signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. He earned one of the team’s final Opening Day bullpen roles and posted a 1.86 ERA in 12 games before being placed on the injured list with right hip inflammation on May 24. After receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection, he was transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 23 and activated on August 1. The Yankees designated him for assignment on September 7, and he was sent outright to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders before electing free agency on October 1.
Boston Red Sox Era (2025)
On February 28, 2025, Burdi signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. He pitched in 13 games for the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, going 3-0 with a 0.54 ERA, 25 strikeouts, and three saves across 16 and two-thirds innings. On May 16, the Red Sox selected his contract to the active roster, and he made four scoreless appearances before a foot contusion led to an injured list placement on June 3. While rehabbing, he suffered a hip injury and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 9. He was activated on August 2, designated for assignment on August 11, and sent outright to Worcester on August 13 before electing free agency on October 8.
New York Mets Era (2025-Present)
On November 25, 2025, Burdi signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets, joining the organization as he continued his effort to return to the major leagues. The move provided him with another opportunity to compete for a bullpen role while representing his fifth major league organization since 2018.
Notable Events and Milestones
Burdi’s MLB debut on September 11, 2018, against the St. Louis Cardinals marked the realization of a long-anticipated major league arrival after years of injuries. He has since reached the major leagues with four different organizations, an unusual milestone that highlights both his resilience and the unpredictable nature of a pitching career interrupted by two Tommy John surgeries and thoracic outlet surgery.
Nick Burdi Career Highlights
Although Burdi has not accumulated a large number of major league wins due to frequent injuries, he has produced several strong relief performances, including a 1.86 ERA across 12 appearances with the Yankees in 2024 and four scoreless outings with the Red Sox in 2025. He has also excelled at the Triple-A level, particularly with Worcester in 2025 and Iowa in 2023.
Minor League and International Highlights
Burdi finished the 2015 season with the Chattanooga Lookouts, posting a 1.77 ERA in 20 and one-third innings. He was also a member of the United States national collegiate baseball team and pitched in the Cape Cod Baseball League and the Arizona Fall League. He is widely recognized as one of the most prominent relief prospects of the 2014 draft class.
Nick Burdi Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Burdi’s older brother, Drew, was an All-State quarterback at Downers Grove South who later played football at Western Michigan. His younger brother, Zack, is also a professional baseball pitcher, continuing a strong athletic tradition within the family.
Personal Life
Burdi is American by nationality and has spent much of his professional life moving between organizations as he has worked to recover from injuries. His baseball career has taken him through teams in Minnesota, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Chicago, New York, and Boston, and he remains active in professional baseball as a member of the New York Mets organization.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Burdi signing a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox in February. He quickly emerged as a key late-inning arm for the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, going 3-0 with a 0.54 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 13 appearances. His performance earned him a promotion to Boston’s major league roster on May 16, where he contributed four scoreless relief outings before a foot contusion interrupted his momentum.
While rehabbing in Worcester, Burdi suffered a hip injury that kept him on the 60-day injured list until August 2. He was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on August 11 and cleared waivers, opting to remain with the organization at the Triple-A level before electing free agency in October. His 2025 results reflected both his continued effectiveness when healthy and the persistence of injury challenges that have defined much of his career.
Following his release from Boston, Burdi signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets on November 25, 2025, giving him a new opportunity to compete for a major league bullpen role heading into the next season. The signing reflected his standing as a proven Triple-A reliever with a high-octane fastball and a track record of major league success when healthy.