Beau Burrows
Position: RHP
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 210 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 09/18/1996
High School: Weatherford (TX) HS
How Acquired: Minor league free agent
Drafted: 1st round, 22nd Overall, 2015 (Tigers)
Bonus: $2,154,200
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Minor League Free Agency: 2025
Options Left: 1
Overview
Detroit drafted Burrows in the first round in 2015 out of prep school. The attraction was good velocity for a prep pitcher, 93-95 mph, as well as a curve and slider, and a change that needed work. He made his way quickly through the low minors, but his command didn’t develop well and neither did his stuff. He’s increasingly struggled in AAA, as none of his secondary pitches developed into an out pitch and his velocity sat around 93. Burrows ended up in the Mexican League in 2025, but the Pirates signed him to a minor league deal in May.
2015-18
Burrows quickly made it to AA and established himself as one of the Tigers’ top prospects. He had a 1.61 ERA and 10.6 K/9 in rookie ball in 2015, then made the jump to low A in 2016, making 20 starts with a 3.15 ERA. His K rate did drop to 6.2.
In 2017, Burrows got off to a big start in high A, posting a 1.23 ERA through 11 starts, with very good walk and K rates. After a promotion, AA was more of a challenge, as his ERA was 4.72 in 15 starts, and his WHIP jumped from 0.96 at the lower level to 1.47. Burrows spent all of 2018 in AA and had a solid season, with a 4.10 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. His walk and K rates were also solid.
2019-21
In 2019, Burrows missed nearly the first two months with biceps tendonitis and shoulder inflammation. He also went back on the injured list in August with an oblique injury. In between, he mostly struggled with a 5.51 ERA in 15 AAA starts. His control wasn’t good, as he walked 4.4 per nine innings. Detroit added him to the 40-man roster after the season.
In the pandemic season, Burrows was up and down a number of times between Detroit and the alternate site. He made five relief appearances, giving up eight hits and four earned runs in 6.2 IP. The next year, Detroit didn’t assign Burrows anywhere until May, when he went to AAA. He pitched mostly in relief and had a 6.23 ERA in 17.1 IP. He also made one relief appearance in the majors, which went badly. The Tigers designated him for assignment in June and lost him to Minnesota off waivers. With the Twins, Burrows spent the majority of the rest of the season in AAA, mostly working as a starter. He had a 4.69 ERA there and also made five appearances in the majors, which went very badly. The Twins outrighted Burrows in mid-August and he became a free agent after the season.
2022-24
Burrows signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers and they sent him to AAA. He spent the season there starting and relieving, and getting hit hard. Control was also a problem, and Burrows finished with a 1.82 WHIP and 7.18 ERA. Oddly, the Dodgers added Burrows to their 40-man roster on the last day of the regular season, then outrighted him a couple weeks later. Burrows elected free agency and signed a minor league deal with Atlanta.
Except for one game in AA, Burrows spent 2023 in AAA with the Braves as a swing man. He still didn’t get good results, posting an ERA of 5.67. He became a free agent again after the season, signed a minor league deal with the Twins, was released in spring training and signed with the Phillies. He split his time with them between AA and AAA, pitching in relief. He continued to have a rough time in AAA, putting up an 8.10 ERA with 18 walks in 13.1 IP. The Phillies released him in June and he caught on with Cleburne in the independent American Association. He wasn’t effective there, either, with an ERA of 6.10 in 16 relief games.
2025
In 2025, Burrows signed with Dos Laredos in the Mexican League and appeared in relief eight times. In five and two-thirds innings, he fanned 10 but gave up seven hits, nine walks and six earned runs. He drew some interest from scouts, though, as his velocity was reportedly up as high as 97 mph. The Pirates signed him to a minor league deal in mid-May.
Stats
Transactions
June 8, 2015: Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 1st round, 22nd overall pick; signed on June 17.
November 20, 2019: Contract purchased by the Detroit Tigers.
June 22, 2021: Claimed off waivers from the Detroit Tigers by the Minnesota Twins.
August 19, 2021: Outrighted to AAA by the Minnesota Twins.
November 7, 2021: Became a free agent.
November 28, 2021: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
October 5, 2022: Called up by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
October 21, 2022: Outrighted to AAA by the Los Angeles Dodgers; elected free agency.
February 23, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Atlanta Braves.
November 6, 2023: Became a free agent.
January 31, 2024: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Minnesota Twins.
March 21, 2024: Released by the Minnesota Twins.
March 25, 2024: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies.
June 9, 2024: Released by the Philadelphia Phillies.
May 12, 2025: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.