Brock Burke Bio
Brock Christopher Burke, born August 4, 1996, is an American professional baseball pitcher. He currently plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, where he wears jersey number 49. A left-handed pitcher, Burke has built his career as a reliable relief arm since reaching the major leagues in 2019.
Over the course of his professional career, Burke has suited up for the Texas Rangers, the Los Angeles Angels, and the Cincinnati Reds. He was a member of the Rangers roster that won the 2023 World Series, the crowning achievement of his time in Texas. Selected in the third round of the 2014 MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, Burke has developed from a teenage prospect into a steady big-league reliever known for his strike-throwing ability and quiet work ethic.
Early Life and Background
Brock Christopher Burke was born and raised in Evergreen, Colorado, a small mountain community southwest of Denver. He grew up in a region where outdoor activities are a way of life, and he developed a love for sports at a young age. As a young athlete, Burke was drawn to baseball and quickly showed promise on the mound during his youth career in the Colorado amateur circuit.
Burke attended Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colorado, where he became one of the most talked-about high school pitchers in the state. During his senior year, he delivered a memorable performance against Eaglecrest High School at Coors Field, striking out 20 batters in a single game. That outing cemented his reputation as one of the top pitching prospects in the country and attracted the attention of several Major League organizations.
Following his standout high school career, Burke committed to continue his baseball career at the University of Oregon. He had the opportunity to begin his professional journey right out of high school, however, and he ultimately chose that path, signing with the Tampa Bay Rays after being selected in the 2014 MLB draft.
Path to Professional Baseball
Burke’s path to professional baseball began on draft night in 2014, when the Tampa Bay Rays selected him in the third round with the 96th overall pick. He signed with the organization for an above-slot bonus of $897,500, signaling the Rays’ confidence in his long-term potential as a starting pitcher. Burke made his professional debut that same year with the Gulf Coast Rays, where he faced the typical challenges of a young pitcher adjusting to life in the minors.
Over the next several seasons, Burke worked his way through the Rays’ minor league system, splitting time between Princeton, Hudson Valley, Bowling Green, Charlotte, and Montgomery. He posted strong numbers in 2017, going 11-6 with a 2.99 ERA across 23 starts between the Bowling Green Hot Rods and the Charlotte Stone Crabs. After the 2018 season, the Rays added him to their 40-man roster, recognizing that he was close to being major-league ready.
Burke’s path to the big leagues was altered in December 2018, when he was traded to the Texas Rangers as part of a three-team deal. The change of scenery ultimately worked in his favor, as Texas provided him with the opportunity to make his major league debut the following summer.
Brock Burke Career
Early Career (2014-2018)
Burke spent his first four professional seasons climbing through the minor leagues, beginning with the Gulf Coast Rays in 2014 and progressing through Princeton, Hudson Valley, Bowling Green, Charlotte, and Montgomery. He learned the rigors of a starting pitcher’s workload and posted a strong 2.99 ERA in 2017 across two levels. The Rays added him to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season, putting him on the doorstep of the major leagues.
In December 2018, Burke’s career took a major turn when the Texas Rangers acquired him in a three-team trade that also sent Kyle Bird, Yoel Espinal, and Eli White to Texas. The deal gave Burke a fresh start in a new organization and set the stage for his MLB debut the following summer.
Texas Rangers Era (2019-2024)
Burke made his major league debut on August 20, 2019, against the Los Angeles Angels. He impressed in that first outing, recording four strikeouts over six scoreless innings. Although he went 0-2 with a 7.43 ERA in his first big-league stint, the performance showed enough promise to keep him firmly in the Rangers’ plans.
Burke missed the entire 2020 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder in February 2020. He worked his way back to health in 2021, pitching for the Round Rock Express of Triple-A West. The 2022 season marked his true breakthrough, as he made the Rangers’ Opening Day roster as a relief pitcher and posted a 7-5 record with a 1.97 ERA and 90 strikeouts across 82 1/3 innings. He was named the Texas Rangers Rookie of the Year by the DFW chapter of the BBWAA.
In 2023, Burke continued to be a reliable arm out of the Rangers’ bullpen, making 53 appearances and registering a 4.37 ERA with 52 strikeouts across 59 2/3 innings. That year, he was part of the Rangers’ roster that won the 2023 World Series championship, the highlight of his time in Texas. The 2024 season proved more difficult, as Burke struggled to a 9.22 ERA with the Rangers and was designated for assignment on August 11, 2024, after surgery to repair a fractured metacarpal in his right hand.
Los Angeles Angels Era (2024-2025)
On August 13, 2024, Burke was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels, giving him a fresh opportunity on the West Coast. The Angels asked him to shift eight inches from the third base side of the pitching rubber toward the center, and the mechanical change appeared to help. He posted a 3.54 ERA over 20 1/3 innings to close out the 2024 season in Los Angeles.
Burke became a regular presence in the Angels’ bullpen during the 2025 season, making 69 appearances including one start. He compiled a 7-1 record with a 3.36 ERA and 52 strikeouts across 61 2/3 innings, showing the consistency that had marked his best seasons in Texas. His work in Los Angeles reestablished him as a dependable late-inning option.
Cincinnati Reds Era (2026-Present)
On January 16, 2026, the Angels traded Burke to the Cincinnati Reds in a three-team deal that also sent Gavin Lux to the Tampa Bay Rays and Josh Lowe to the Angels. The trade gave Burke a new home and a fresh chapter in his career as he joined the Reds’ pitching staff. Through the early portion of the 2026 season, he has been a contributor in the Cincinnati bullpen, wearing number 49 for his new club.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining milestone of Burke’s career came in 2023, when he was a member of the Texas Rangers team that won the World Series championship. He has also reached personal milestones including his major league debut in 2019 and his 2022 breakout campaign that earned him the Rangers’ Rookie of the Year honor from the DFW chapter of the BBWAA. He has continued to add to his career totals in subsequent seasons with the Angels and Reds.
Brock Burke Career Highlights
Major League Highlights
Burke’s most memorable major league moment came in his debut on August 20, 2019, when he struck out four batters over six scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels. His 2022 season stands as his best individual year, with a 7-5 record, 1.97 ERA, and 90 strikeouts across 82 1/3 innings for the Rangers. Most recently, he posted a 7-1 record with a 3.36 ERA in 69 appearances for the Angels in 2025.
Other Performances
Outside of his major league accomplishments, Burke put together a strong 2017 minor league season, going 11-6 with a 2.99 ERA across 23 starts split between the Bowling Green Hot Rods and the Charlotte Stone Crabs. He was also added to the Rays’ 40-man roster after the 2018 season, a notable recognition of his development as a prospect.
Brock Burke Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Burke was raised in Evergreen, Colorado, and grew up in the mountain community where he attended Evergreen High School. Public details about his parents and immediate family remain limited, and he has generally kept his personal and family life out of the public eye.
Personal Life
Burke has been open about his lifelong struggle with somnambulism, or sleepwalking. On multiple occasions during his time in the minor leagues, he was witnessed by various roommates waking up suddenly during the night and acting out in different ways. He has spoken about managing the condition while maintaining the demanding schedule of a professional baseball player.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a strong bounce-back campaign for Burke, spent entirely with the Los Angeles Angels after being claimed off waivers the previous August. He became a fixture in the Angels’ bullpen, appearing in 69 games including one start and posting a 7-1 record with a 3.36 ERA across 61 2/3 innings. He struck out 52 batters while providing his team with consistent relief work throughout the year.
Burke’s reliability out of the bullpen made him a trusted option for the Angels’ coaching staff, and his left-handed matchups proved valuable in late-inning situations. His mechanical adjustment on the pitching rubber, made earlier in his time with Los Angeles, continued to pay dividends throughout the season. The strong 2025 showing helped position him for his next opportunity, which came in January 2026 when he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds as part of a three-team deal.
