Blake Burkhalter

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #25 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Burkhalter signed a slightly under-slot $650,000 deal with the Braves as the 76th overall pick in the 2022 draft after turning in one of the better reliever seasons in college baseball with Auburn. He posted a career 3.01 ERA in 71.2 innings in college and produced a 34.9% strikeout rate and 8.7% walk rate. Burkhalter pitched briefly in spring training in 2023, but missed the season with an injury that required Tommy John surgery.
  
  Scouting Report: Burkhalter has just 4.2 official pro innings under his belt, but when he’s been healthy, he’s shown loud pure stuff. His arsenal starts with a mid-90s fastball that has been up to 98, with the sort of riding life that should allow it to generate plenty of whiffs at the top of the zone. He throws a hard breaking ball that blends between a slider and a cutter in the upper 80s, though the Braves had planned to try and make that breaking ball a true slider. He also showed feel for a mid-80s changeup with solid arm-side fading life that gives him a complete three-pitch mix. Given his pitch mix and track record of throwing strikes, the Braves intended to try developing him in a starting role, though given his injury and missed 2023 season, going back to the bullpen is now more likely.
  
  The Future: Burkhalter will play in his age-23 season in 2024, where he’ll look to re-establish his prospect value and, if healthy, could be pushed aggressively.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #7 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Burkhalter was one of the most effective college relievers in 2022 for Auburn. His 16 saves were second most in the country, and he posted a 3.69 ERA over 46.1 innings while striking out 71 batters (38.6%) and walking just seven (3.8%). The Braves selected him with the 76th overall pick in the supplemental second round and signed him for $650,000. He ramped up later in the year and threw just 4.2 innings in pro ball, but his final appearance was dominant--a three-inning outing on Sept. 11 where he struck out six batters and allowed no hits and no walks.
  
  Scouting Report: A strong, 6-foot righthander, Burkhalter is going to be developed--at least initially--as a starter with the Braves. He didn't start a game in college, but the control he showed in 2022 is more than enough for the role, with loud pure stuff to go with it. He throws a flat-plane fastball in the 93-96 mph range that has touched 98, with the sort of characteristics that should allow him to rack up buckets of whiffs at the top of the zone. He also throws a hard cutter/slider that the Braves are attempting to make a true slider and a mid-80s changeup that looks like a viable third pitch. His slider earns plus grades, while his changeup could be solid-average.
  
  The Future: Burkhalter will attempt to get acclimated to a starting role during the 2023 season, where attacking with his fastball/slider combination will be prioritized.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #280 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Auburn Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
  Age At Draft: 21.8
  Burkhalter was one of the most effective relievers in the country, as he piled up strikeouts and helped pitch the Tigers to Omaha with a plus fastball and plus slider. His 16 saves were second most in the country. He finished with a sparkling 71-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 46.1 innings. His 93-96 mph four-seam fastball has touched 98. Thanks to his short stature (6-foot), its flat plane and its life, he can throw it for swings and misses up in the zone, but he really wants to finish off hitters with a truly diabolical hard (85-91 mph) slider/cutter. It has modest movement, but its power, especially at its upper velocity range, makes for a lot of feeble swings. He lives on the outer edge of the plate down and away from righthanded hitters. Lefthanded hitters have a better chance, as his slider isn’t as effective against them, but he has developed a mid-80s fringe-average changeup to keep them honest. With two plus pitches, Burkhalter is one of the better available college relievers in this year’s class.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Burkhalter was one of the most effective college relievers in 2022 for Auburn. His 16 saves were second most in the country, and he posted a 3.69 ERA over 46.1 innings while striking out 71 batters (38.6%) and walking just seven (3.8%). The Braves selected him with the 76th overall pick in the supplemental second round and signed him for $650,000. He ramped up later in the year and threw just 4.2 innings in pro ball, but his final appearance was dominant--a three-inning outing on Sept. 11 where he struck out six batters and allowed no hits and no walks.
  
  Scouting Report: A strong, 6-foot righthander, Burkhalter is going to be developed--at least initially--as a starter with the Braves. He didn't start a game in college, but the control he showed in 2022 is more than enough for the role, with loud pure stuff to go with it. He throws a flat-plane fastball in the 93-96 mph range that has touched 98, with the sort of characteristics that should allow him to rack up buckets of whiffs at the top of the zone. He also throws a hard cutter/slider that the Braves are attempting to make a true slider and a mid-80s changeup that looks like a viable third pitch. His slider earns plus grades, while his changeup could be solid-average.
  
  The Future: Burkhalter will attempt to get acclimated to a starting role during the 2023 season, where attacking with his fastball/slider combination will be prioritized.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Burkhalter was one of the most effective college relievers in 2022 for Auburn. His 16 saves were second most in the country, and he posted a 3.69 ERA over 46.1 innings while striking out 71 batters (38.6%) and walking just seven (3.8%). The Braves selected him with the 76th overall pick in the supplemental second round and signed him for $650,000. He ramped up later in the year and threw just 4.2 innings in pro ball, but his final appearance was dominant--a three-inning outing on Sept. 11 where he struck out six batters and allowed no hits and no walks.
  
  Scouting Report: A strong, 6-foot righthander, Burkhalter is going to be developed--at least initially--as a starter with the Braves. He didn't start a game in college, but the control he showed in 2022 is more than enough for the role, with loud pure stuff to go with it. He throws a flat-plane fastball in the 93-96 mph range that has touched 98, with the sort of characteristics that should allow him to rack up buckets of whiffs at the top of the zone. He also throws a hard cutter/slider that the Braves are attempting to make a true slider and a mid-80s changeup that looks like a viable third pitch. His slider earns plus grades, while his changeup could be solid-average.
  
  The Future: Burkhalter will attempt to get acclimated to a starting role during the 2023 season, where attacking with his fastball/slider combination will be prioritized.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 50. Control: 50.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  August Update: Burkhalter was one of the most effective relievers in the country, as he piled up strikeouts and helped pitch the Tigers to Omaha with a plus fastball and plus slider. His 16 saves were second most in the country. He finished with a sparkling 71-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 46.1 innings. His 93-96 mph four-seam fastball has touched 98. Thanks to his short stature (6-foot), its flat plane and its life, he can throw it for swings and misses up in the zone, but he really wants to finish off hitters with a truly diabolical hard (85-91 mph) slider/cutter. It has modest movement, but its power, especially at its upper velocity range, makes for a lot of feeble swings. He lives on the outer edge of the plate down and away from righthanded hitters. Lefthanded hitters have a better chance, as his slider isn&#39t as effective against them, but he has developed a mid-80s fringe-average changeup to keep them honest. With two plus pitches, Burkhalter was one of the better available college relievers in this year&#39s class and signed with the Braves for $647,500 after being selected with the team&#39s second round supplemental pick.