Andy Burns is a 31 year old veteran that has Major League experience and a long story to tell. Burns was a highly regarded prospect coming out of Rocky Mountain High in Colorado and was ranked the #38 High School prospect in the entire 2008 draft. Rocky Mountain High is a powerhouse baseball program in Ft. Collins that is led by legendary head Coach Scott Bullock. Bullock has led the Lobos to 6 State Titles since he took over in 2004.
Burns was named a first team All American by the American Baseball Coaches Association, was the Colorado State Tournament MVP as a Junior and as a Senior and got drafted by the Rockies in the 25th Round. But, Burns turned down the Rockies and, instead, chose to go to College. His choice was Kentucky to be a Wildcat and play for newly hired head Gary Henderson in the SEC. In his time with Kentucky Burns hit 18 homeruns in 100 games and had a career batting average as a Wildcat of .279. But, after 2 years with the Wildcats, the legendary Lobo took his talents to the Desert and transferred to the University of Arizona.
Burns was forced to sit out 2011 due to the NCAA transfer rules, then after that 2011 season, he got drafted by the Bluejays in the 11th Round and his professional career had officially begun.
Burns a Bluejay
Burns spent the remainder of the 2011 season with the GCL Blue Jays and was then assigned to Class A Lansing and played his first full professional season in 2012 as a Lugnut.
The next season Burns was assigned to High A Dunedin where he performed well enough to be a mid season All Star in Mid June, then got moved up to the AA New Hampshire later that month where he finished 2013. After a stop with the Bravos de Margarita in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, then 2 more years of bouncing around in the Minor Leagues, Burns finally made it to Toronto in 2016. In 2016 the Former Wildcat got limited action with just 6 at bats in the Bigs, but had gotten his feet wet on the highest stage and was ready to make a splash in the Majors.
But, in the following Winter, the cold hard business side of baseball struck and Burns was released by the Bluejays, then resigned to another Minor League Contract.
As a result, Burns chose to play 2017 and 2018 in Korea for the Lotte Giants and had 2 very good years before becoming a free agent again where he was picked up by the Toronto Bluejays again, and spent all of 2019 in AAA Buffalo.
The world traveled veteran was a victim of the 2020 cancellation of the Minor League season and didn’t play any officially recognized games last year. He was picked up out of Free Agency by the Dodgers in December of 2020 and since then has hit .237 in 186 at bats at AAA OKC and got 3 hits in 11 at bats with L.A. this year.
Around the World
Burns has been drafted twice, been at 2 Universities to play baseball, played in 3 different countries and 2 different organizations in the MLB umbrella. While his on the field MLB playing time has been limited, his experience in every aspect of baseball and the game of life certainly hasn’t. Burns has been “Around the World” and is hoping to get to play in the World Series!
