A hard-throwing pitcher from Nanaimo is a Major League Baseball draft pick for a second time.
Josh Burgmann, formerly of the Nanaimo Pirates, was chosen today, June 4, in the MLB draft, taken in the fifth round, 162nd overall, by the Chicago Cubs. He was the top British Columbia player taken in the draft.
The six-foot, 205-pound right-hander had a 4-6 record and 3.99 earned-run average with the Washington Huskies this past season and his 101 strikeouts were tied for second-most in the Pac-12 conference.
Coach Lindsay Meggs told the Huskies’ website that Burgmann is just beginning to come into his own as a ball player.
“His low to mid-90s fastball is complemented by a wipeout slider that will serve him well at the pro level,” Meggs said. “The Cubs got a good one here as Josh’s best innings are ahead of him.”
Burgmann was previously drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 30th round, 916th overall, in 2016, but chose the U of W at that time with the hopes of being re-drafted.
He is a former member of the Canadian junior national team and a past Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards winner.
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