Hard Work Has Burke Turning Heads Again

MANSFIELD, Ma. - A new and improved Garrett Burke is ready to turn heads again.

“Last year I had a good amount of interest,” the incoming-senior at Bishop Hendricken reflected. “I thought I saw light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, an injury set me back.”

Tommy John Surgery last August temporarily changed the recruitment of the 17th-rated 2022 in New England.

“I started the recruiting process as a PO,” noted Burke, who was touching 90 with his fastball at the Nokona PBR Scout Day in February of 2020 before the injury. “Then came the potential to be a two-way. For the most part now it’s 50-50, maybe a little more hitting. I definitely love hitting but if pitching gives me a better path and potential to be drafted I’ll end up going with that.”

For now, the focus has been on playing in the field while getting back to full strength as a pitcher.

“I feel stronger than ever,” related Burke, a left-handed hitting first baseman and third baseman in addition to pitcher. “I hope to begin pitching in the fall and winter and be ready for my high school season.”

Interest is picking back up.

“A few have come back,” Burke said of colleges that have started to reach out again, noting interest is coming from mid-major as well as Power Five schools. “I had a good spring season and I’m doing well this summer.”

Trevor Brown, PBR Rhode Island Director of Scouting, feels Burke has a bright future in the game.

“He’s a physical left-handed hitter who shows power to all fields,” Brown said of Burke, who has an exit velocity of 98. “He’s projecting out more at first base long term.”

But pitching remains a strong possibility.

“Off the mound, he has a quick powerful arm, an above average slider, and his fastball is heavy in the upper-80s,” Brown said.

The desire to play at the next level started early.

“My whole life baseball has been my number one sport,” Burke pointed out. “I dropped basketball going into high school. I still play football, but baseball is my focus.”

Playing college baseball became more realistic once joining Nokona Baseball at the age of 12.

“They have a lot of success with a lot of commits,” Burke said of the travel program. “Ever since then I’ve thought I’m that guy. I think I can fulfill my dreams.”

But there was some concern when Burke was injured.

“The day it happened was a terrible feeling,” Burke reflected. “It’s been a long road. I ended up going to the Future Games but I didn’t perform the way I wanted. I had surgery right after that and three or four months out I started a strength and conditioning program. Five to seven months out I was full go in the weight room. 

“It’s all taught me true arm care. You can’t take a day off. My coaches around me have called it a blessing in disguise. You come back stronger as long as you put in the work.”

Help has come from numerous people according to Burke, including parents, sister, the Nokona Baseball family led by coach Dan Sullivan, high school coach Chris Sheehan, Dr. Oh, Lenny Marina, pitching coach Eric Turgeon and Joe Breen, his former head coach at Mansfield High School where he attended prior to Bishop Hendricken.

“I’ve had a great support system,” the fourth-rated uncommitted 2022 in New England said. “They know how much I want it.”

Business or construction management are potential majors for Burke, who finished with a 3.51 GPA this past school year.

“In the next month I’m hoping to get some extreme interest and get this over,” Burke concluded about his recruitment. “I was hoping to do it last year. But I’m happy where it’s going. I’m not going to rush it. I want to get to the level I was at before and see where I best suit.”