By Sean Duncan

The spotlight has been on Nick Burdi, Downers Grove South?s 6-foot-4 right-hander, ever since the beginning of his junior year, when he earned the No. 1 ranking in the state and began to garner national recognition. With each challenge, Burdi continues to climb up the national ranks and is now considered one of the top high school right-handers in the country. Burdi?s fastball regularly sits 90-94 mph with heavy sink, and has climbed as high as 97 in the fall.

Burdi certainly didn?t disappoint during his junior season at Downers Grove South. He earned first-team Prep Baseball Report All-State honors after posting a perfect 9-0 record and a 1.03 ERA. In 53.1 innings, he struck out 89 and walked 12. Hard to believe, but what Burdi accomplished in the spring paled in comparison to his summer successes at all the top events.

A conversation with Nick Burdi:

You?ve had a whirlwind summer, traveling all over the country to participate in all the biggest national events. What was the most significant moment for you over the summer?

Cary, North Carolina at the Tournament of the Stars. ? It put me in my place a little and showed me how I rank up against the rest of the best players in the nation. After getting cut [from USA Baseball?s 18-under National team], it made me want to work harder to get an opportunity to play for USA in the future. I just thought getting cut from
something I wanted for last couple years pushed me to work even harder.

You were the only Illinois player selected to participate in the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field. Not only did you start the game, you were dominant in your one inning and ultimately earned the Most Valuable Player honors. How was that experience?

It was big honor to be invited, but to win MVP honors capped off the summer and showed me that all the hard work paid off. ? I was pretty nervous, but it was just one of those days when you wake up and have that good feeling. Everything felt good, everything felt right.

In the fall, it seems you?ve begun throwing a much harder slider ? about 10 mph harder than it was in the spring.

I was using it down in Jupiter (Florida in October), and I was up to 90-91 with my slider. It?s been something I?ve been working on. My arm action and mechanics have gotten a lot better, and that?s when the velocity of the slider started shooting up. ? In the past, I used to slow down my arm a little bit so you could see it coming. ? I think it?s going to be huge pitch.

The slider isn?t the only pitch you?re throwing harder. In Jupiter you touched 96-97 mph with your fastball. Are you doing anything differently to get that added velocity?

I definitely think it?s my workouts and my new nutrition plan.

Your junior year you went 9-0 and earned first-team All-State honors. Were you satisfied with your overall performance last spring?

I just thought I needed to become leader and win more games than my sophomore year. I knew people were going to come after me and wanted to beat me. I knew that if I worked hard, and stayed away from distractions, that would be more beneficial to me.

Looking back, which game was the most dominant game you had last year?

The Hinsdale South game was my most dominant game. I had eight strikeouts in two innings (thanks to two drop-third strikes). In five innings I struck out 15.

I know there?s been a lot of buzz about the draft. Even though it?s well down the road, what are your thoughts about the draft?

Basically, we?re set on school, but if the opportunity comes, we?ll have to sit down as a family and discuss what the best option is for me. We?ll have to wait and see.

When did you realize that you could be one of the elite pitchers in the country?

My junior year, after Super 60 Showcase (in February), just comparing myself to guys like [Minooka right-hander] Mike Foltynewicz, I knew I had a chance to go out there and compete against top guys in nation.

Are you surprised by where you are at right now?

I never really expected to be in position where I am now. It showed me a good work ethic, to just do your own thing off the field and it pays off in long run. There are sacrifices you need to make to accomplish your goals. But if you want to be successful, it?s something you have to do.

Have you always been a dominant pitcher?

No. My freshman year I was on the freshman team and I was said to be the No. 4 pitcher on the team. I didn?t pitch that much as freshman. My sophomore year I gave up playing the field and just focused on pitching.

What advice would you give young players?

Believe in yourself and don?t let people tell you what you can and can?t do. If I listened to my freshman coach, I probably wouldn?t be playing baseball anymore.