Michael Thomas Burrows Bio
Michael Thomas Burrows (born November 8, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who selected him in the 2018 MLB Draft. Burrows made his major league debut in September 2024 and has since established himself as a promising young arm in professional baseball.
Early Life and Background
Michael Thomas Burrows grew up in Connecticut and attended Waterford High School. As a senior in 2018, he dominated on the mound, posting a 6-0 record with a 0.38 earned run average and 98 strikeouts over 44 innings pitched. His exceptional performance caught the attention of Major League Baseball scouts and positioned him as a desirable college prospect.
Burrows had committed to play college baseball for the UConn Huskies before beginning his professional career. His combination of stuff and polish made him a projectable prospect heading into the 2018 MLB Draft.
Path to Professional Baseball
After his standout senior season at Waterford High School, Burrows was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He signed with the organization for $500,000, choosing to forgo his commitment to the UConn Huskies baseball program to begin his professional career immediately.
He made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Pirates, where he pitched 14 innings without allowing an earned run. The Pirates organization viewed him as a developing prospect with upside, and he steadily climbed their minor league system over the following seasons.
Michael Thomas Burrows Career
Minor League Development (2018–2023)
Burrows spent the 2019 season with the West Virginia Black Bears of the Low-A New York-Penn League. He made 11 starts and went 2-3 with a 4.33 earned run average over 43+2⁄3 innings. The following year, he did not play a minor league game due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He returned in 2021 with the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the High-A East. Although injuries limited him to just 13 starts, he went 2-2 with an impressive 2.20 earned run average, 66 strikeouts, and twenty walks over 49 innings. His strong performance earned him a selection to play in the Arizona Fall League with the Surprise Saguaros following the season.
Breakthrough Season and 40-Man Roster (2022)
Burrows opened the 2022 season with the Altoona Curve of the Double-A Eastern League before receiving a mid-June promotion to the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A International League. He was selected to represent the Pirates alongside Henry Davis at the 2022 All-Star Futures Game.
Across 24 total appearances between both clubs, he went 5-6 with a 4.01 earned run average and 111 strikeouts over 94+1⁄3 innings. His combination of strikeout ability and durability positioned him as one of the Pirates’ top prospects. On November 15, 2022, the Pirates selected his contract and added him to the 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft.
Burrows began the 2023 season at Triple-A Indianapolis but suffered a significant setback. He made just two starts before suffering an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament. On April 26, 2023, he underwent Tommy John surgery, which ended his season and required a lengthy rehabilitation process.
Major League Debut (2024)
Burrows returned to action in 2024, opening the season at Triple-A Indianapolis. In 10 appearances with the club, he posted a 4.06 earned run average with 45 strikeouts across 37+2⁄3 innings pitched. His performance earned him a promotion to the major leagues.
On September 28, 2024, Burrows was promoted to the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first time. He made his MLB debut that same day against the New York Yankees. He earned his first career victory by pitching 3+2⁄3 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits with 2 strikeouts.
Pittsburgh Pirates (2025)
Burrows returned to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the 2025 season before joining the Pirates’ major league roster. He made 23 appearances with 19 starts for Pittsburgh during the year, registering a 2-4 record and 3.94 earned run average with 97 strikeouts over 96 innings of work. His first full major league season demonstrated his ability to compete at the highest level and provided a foundation for his future development.
Houston Astros Era (2025–Present)
On December 19, 2025, the Pittsburgh Pirates traded Michael Thomas Burrows to the Houston Astros as part of a three-team deal. The Pirates acquired Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum, and Mason Montgomery from the Tampa Bay Rays, who received Jacob Melton and Anderson Brito in return. Burrows joined an Astros team looking to rebuild their pitching staff after a challenging 2025 season.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Burrows features a fastball-changeup combination that generates good arm side run on his fastball. His changeup has developed into a solid secondary offering. Throughout his minor league career, he demonstrated the ability to miss bats, recording 111 strikeouts over 94+1⁄3 innings at the Double-A and Triple-A levels in 2022.
Notable Events and Milestones
His selection to the 2022 All-Star Futures Game represented a significant career milestone. His recovery from Tommy John surgery in April 2023 showed resilience as he returned to major league action less than a year later.
Michael Thomas Burrows Career Statistics
Through June 19, 2026, Michael Thomas Burrows has compiled a 6-12 win-loss record with a 4.74 earned run average and 165 strikeouts across 152 innings in his major league career spanning 45 games and 37 starts. In Triple-A Indianapolis during the 2025 season, he made 23 appearances and maintained a 3.94 earned run average over 96 innings with 97 strikeouts.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Burrows earned his first career victory in his MLB debut on September 28, 2024, against the New York Yankees. He was promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis to earn the victory in his first major league appearance. He followed with a full 2025 season in the Pirates’ starting rotation before the December trade to Houston.
Michael Thomas Burrows Family
Family Background and Education
Burrows attended Waterford High School in Connecticut. His strong performance as a senior in 2018, including a 6-0 record and 0.38 earned run average, positioned him as a draft prospect. He forwent his college commitment to the UConn Huskies to sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Burrows’ first full major league campaign with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He split time between Triple-A Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, making 23 appearances and 19 starts with a 2-4 record and 3.94 earned run average with 97 strikeouts over 96 innings. His performance demonstrated his ability to compete at the major league level.
Burrows showed durability throughout the season, logging significant innings and working as a regular member of the starting rotation. His strikeout-to-walk ratio showed promise, and he continued developing his secondary pitches. The December trade to Houston marked a new chapter in his career as he joined a franchise with a strong pitching tradition.