A.J. Burnett is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on January 3, 1977, in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and attended Central Arkansas Christian School. Burnett was drafted by the New York Mets in the eighth round of the 1995 MLB draft but did not sign with the team. Instead, he attended Central Arkansas Community College before being drafted again in 1996, this time by the Florida Marlins in the eighth round.
Burnett made his MLB debut with the Marlins in 1999 and spent seven seasons with the team. During his time in Florida, he established himself as a reliable starter, earning a reputation for his high strikeout rate and his ability to throw a no-hitter. In 2002, he threw a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres, becoming the first Marlins pitcher to do so.
In 2005, Burnett signed a five-year, $55 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He spent three seasons with the team, posting a 38-26 record and a 3.94 ERA. In 2008, he led the American League in strikeouts with 231.
After his stint with the Blue Jays, Burnett signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the New York Yankees in 2009. He spent three seasons with the team, helping them win the World Series in 2009. Burnett had a strong postseason that year, winning two games in the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
In 2012, Burnett was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he spent the final three seasons of his career. He had a strong season in 2013, posting a 10-11 record with a 3.30 ERA and 209 strikeouts. In 2015, Burnett announced his retirement from baseball.
Throughout his career, Burnett was known for his high strikeout rate and his ability to throw a no-hitter. He finished his career with a 164-157 record and a 3.99 ERA. He struck out 2,513 batters in 2,513 innings pitched and threw three complete games and 10 shutouts.
⚾