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13 Dec 2008
ONC Winter Instructor Signs with Astros
The Ottawa Citizen, Saturday, December 13, 2008 - The New York Yankees landed C.C., as in Sabathia. The Houston Astros countered with T.J., as in Burton.
Ottawa's T.J. Burton, an unrestricted free agent right-hander, has signed a contract with the Astros after eight years with the Cleveland Indians organization, including a stint with Triple-A Buffalo in 2008. Burton, still just 25, agreed to the deal just two days into the free agent shopping period, hoping a change of scenery might accelerate his journey to the major leagues.
The Astros are rebuilding from the top down, and Burton admits having Astros legend Terry Puhl in his corner didn't hurt, either. Burton has played for Puhl on four occasions internationally with Team Canada, including at the Olympics this past summer in Beijing, China, and Puhl has the ear of Houston baseball people.
"Cleveland definitely wanted what's best for me," said Burton, who so few know as Timothy Joseph. "They offered me a contract right away, but said look around, too, for what's best for you. Houston called and said they had seen me pitch over the years through their scouts, and said they had a lot of good reports on me. They want me to start the year at Triple-A and see from there. They told me if I put a good month or two together, there's a chance (to get to the majors)."
So Burton will leave his new home in Kanata for spring training, expecting to start the 2009 season with the Round Rock Express, just north of the state capital in Austin and only a one-hour flight from Houston. The Express are owned by Hall of Fame right-hander Nolan Ryan and managed by longtime minor league manager Marc Bombard, who would have visited Ottawa in 2007 to play the Lynx while managing the Charlotte Knights. Burton's pitching coach will be Burt Hooton, remembered best for throwing a no-hitter Opening Day 1972 as a 22-year-old with the Chicago Cubs.
Burton, a former player in Carlingwood-Frank Ryan Little League, has been groomed as a closer since his second year of professional baseball, ascending the minor league ranks from rookie league, to low Single-A, high Single-A and finally Triple-A. He closed out 13 games last season while pitching with the Double-A Akron Aeros.
The World Baseball Classic in March may interrupt Burton's spring training, though he's going to wait and what the Astros think first. "I'm excited," Burton said. "It's a fresh start ... a new situation."
ONC Winter Instructor Signs with Astros
The Ottawa Citizen, Saturday, December 13, 2008 - The New York Yankees landed C.C., as in Sabathia. The Houston Astros countered with T.J., as in Burton.
Ottawa's T.J. Burton, an unrestricted free agent right-hander, has signed a contract with the Astros after eight years with the Cleveland Indians organization, including a stint with Triple-A Buffalo in 2008. Burton, still just 25, agreed to the deal just two days into the free agent shopping period, hoping a change of scenery might accelerate his journey to the major leagues.
The Astros are rebuilding from the top down, and Burton admits having Astros legend Terry Puhl in his corner didn't hurt, either. Burton has played for Puhl on four occasions internationally with Team Canada, including at the Olympics this past summer in Beijing, China, and Puhl has the ear of Houston baseball people.
"Cleveland definitely wanted what's best for me," said Burton, who so few know as Timothy Joseph. "They offered me a contract right away, but said look around, too, for what's best for you. Houston called and said they had seen me pitch over the years through their scouts, and said they had a lot of good reports on me. They want me to start the year at Triple-A and see from there. They told me if I put a good month or two together, there's a chance (to get to the majors)."
So Burton will leave his new home in Kanata for spring training, expecting to start the 2009 season with the Round Rock Express, just north of the state capital in Austin and only a one-hour flight from Houston. The Express are owned by Hall of Fame right-hander Nolan Ryan and managed by longtime minor league manager Marc Bombard, who would have visited Ottawa in 2007 to play the Lynx while managing the Charlotte Knights. Burton's pitching coach will be Burt Hooton, remembered best for throwing a no-hitter Opening Day 1972 as a 22-year-old with the Chicago Cubs.
Burton, a former player in Carlingwood-Frank Ryan Little League, has been groomed as a closer since his second year of professional baseball, ascending the minor league ranks from rookie league, to low Single-A, high Single-A and finally Triple-A. He closed out 13 games last season while pitching with the Double-A Akron Aeros.
The World Baseball Classic in March may interrupt Burton's spring training, though he's going to wait and what the Astros think first. "I'm excited," Burton said. "It's a fresh start ... a new situation."