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Sean Burroughs

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Sean Burroughs
Burroughs with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011
Third baseman
Born: (1980-09-12)September 12, 1980
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Died: May 9, 2024(2024-05-09) (aged 43)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 2, 2002, for the San Diego Padres
Last MLB appearance
April 30, 2012, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
Batting average.278
Home runs12
Runs batted in143
MLB stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Non-MLB stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney Team

Sean Patrick Burroughs (September 12, 1980 – May 9, 2024) was an American professional baseball third baseman, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2002 to 2005 and 2011 to 2012 for the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Minnesota Twins. He won a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Early life and amateur career

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Burroughs was the son of outfielder Jeff Burroughs and born in Atlanta on September 12 1980, Georgia, when Jeff was a member of the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He starred in the Little League World Series as a pitcher when he was growing up in Long Beach, California. His team won the 1992 Little League World Series after their opponent in the championship round was disqualified for using over-aged players. He pitched consecutive no-hitters during the 1993 Little League World Series, which his team won.[1]

Burroughs worked as an extra in Hollywood projects including Knots Landing, Saved by the Bell, and Terminator 2: Judgment Day.[2] He attended Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach[3] and committed to attend the University of Southern California (USC) to play college baseball for the USC Trojans.[1]

Career

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San Diego Padres

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The San Diego Padres selected Burroughs in the first round, with the ninth overall selection, of the 1998 MLB draft. He signed with the Padres rather than attend USC.[1]

Burroughs played in Minor League Baseball for the Fort Wayne Wizards and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in 1999, the Mobile BayBears in 2000 , and the Portland Beavers in 2001.[4] In 2000, Burroughs appeared in the All-Star Futures Game, and was named the game's most valuable player.[5] He also played baseball at the 2000 Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal.[1]

Burroughs made the Padres' Opening Day roster for the 2002 season.[6] He split the season between the Padres and Portland, batting .271 with one home run and 11 runs batted in in 63 games played for the Padres and .302 for the Beavers.[7][8] Burroughs became the Padres' full-time third baseman in the 2003 season, batting .286 with seven home runs. He did not develop into the power hitter that the Padres thought he could become, and the Padres demoted Burroughs to the minor leagues during the 2005 season.[9][7]

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

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After the 2005 season, the Padres traded Burroughs to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in exchange for Dewon Brazelton.[10] He batted .190 in eight games for the Devil Rays before he was optioned to the Durham Bulls, Tampa Bay's Triple-A affiliate. The Rays released Burroughs on June 22.[11]

Seattle Mariners

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On December 24, 2006, Burroughs signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners.[11] He played four games for Seattle's Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers, before walking away from baseball because he had lost his passion for the game.[9] He stopped playing baseball until 2010, partly due to a drug habit.[1][9]

Arizona Diamondbacks

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On November 22, 2010, Burroughs signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He had his contract purchased by Arizona on May 18, 2011, after four seasons out of the major leagues.[12] He was placed on waivers on June 19, after hitting .261 for Arizona and outrighted to the minor leagues.[13] After third baseman Melvin Mora was released, he was returned to Arizona's starting lineup on July 1, 2011.[14] Burroughs played in 20 games for the Diamondbacks as they won the National League West division title. He batted 1-for-3 during the 2011 MLB postseason as a pinch hitter and became a free agent after the season.[8]

Minnesota Twins

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During the 2011–12 offseason, Burroughs played in the Venezuelan Winter League, batting .316. Gene Glynn, the manager of the Minnesota Twins' Triple-A affiliate, coached Burroughs there and recommended him to the Twins, who signed him to a minor league contract.[8] He made the major league team in spring training. The Twins designated him for assignment on May 1.[15] In October 2012, he elected minor league free agency.[16]

Later career

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Burroughs signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013 and played for the Chattanooga Lookouts, their Double-A affiliate. He played in 57 games for the Lookouts and hit .220.[17]

Burroughs signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for 2014 season. He re-signed with the Bluefish for the 2015 season.[18] On August 8, 2015, he was traded to the rival Long Island Ducks for outfielder Bryan Sabatella.[19] On August 1, 2016, the Bluefish reacquired Burroughs from the Ducks in exchange for pitcher D. J. Mitchell.[20]

Death

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Burroughs collapsed and died of a fentanyl overdose at age 43 in a parking lot on May 9, 2024 after dropping off his son for a Little League game in Long Beach.[21][22]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Sean Burroughs, Long Beach little league star, looks back at 20 years of baseball". Los Angeles Daily News. August 24, 2013.
  2. ^ Pearlman, Jeff. "My, How He's Grown Sweet-swinging SEAN BURROUGHS, a star since his Little League days, is this spring's can't-miss rookie". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com.
  3. ^ "LITTLE BURROUGHS ON RISE A MAJOR FUTURE SEEN FOR JEFF'S SON". New York Daily News. May 10, 1998.
  4. ^ "ESPN.com: MLB – Rookie profile: Sean Burroughs". www.espn.com.
  5. ^ "The Spokesman-Review – Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  6. ^ "Former Little League star ready for prime time". The Springfield News-Leader. March 25, 2002. p. 27. Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b Sickels, John (September 20, 2007). "Case Study: Sean Burroughs". Minor League Ball. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "Minnesota Twins: Sean Burroughs on path back from substance abuse". February 21, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Caple, Jim (June 29, 2011). "Burroughs back in baseball after putting aside personal nightmare". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  10. ^ "Rays get Burroughs from Padres for Brazelton". MiLB.com.
  11. ^ a b "M's reportedly sign Burroughs". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  12. ^ "Sean Burroughs returns to majors with Diamondbacks". NBC Sports. May 18, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Mennella, Dan (June 19, 2011). "Diamondbacks Waive Sean Burroughs". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  14. ^ Piecoro, Nick. "Towers & Putz quotes; Burroughs/Mora/Wily Mo". Arizona Central. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  15. ^ Christensen, Joe. "Morneau avoids DL; MRI shows fluid, inflammation; Burroughs DFA'd to make room for Butera". Star-Tribune. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  16. ^ Axisa, Mike (October 6, 2012). "Minor Moves: 28 Players Elect Free Agency". Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  17. ^ Elsberry, Chris (April 26, 2014). "Having seen highs and lows, Burroughs on his way back with Bluefish". Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  18. ^ "ALPB | Player News". Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  19. ^ "Sean Burroughs hopes to give Ducks offensive boost". Newsday. August 15, 2015.
  20. ^ "Ducks trade Burroughs for ex-Yankee Mitchell". Newsday. August 6, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  21. ^ Harris, Beth (May 10, 2024). "Sean Burroughs, former MLB player, Little League World Series and Olympic champion, dies at 43". Associated Press. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  22. ^ "Sean Burroughs died of fentanyl intoxication, per examiner". ESPN. July 11, 2024.
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