It was May 29, 2010, nine years ago today, that the Giants made a decision which helped propel them to a National League West title and a World Series championship. Sitting a few games over .500 and facing their seventh straight season without a playoff berth, the club sought a right-handed spark for a lefty-heavy outfield. The Giants found their answer in 33-year-old veteran Pat Burrell, whom they signed to a minor league deal that came with no risk but ultimately paid significant dividends.
Burrell began his career in 2000 with the Phillies, who drafted him first overall in 1998, and wound up enjoying a successful run with the organization. Between his debut and his final season with the Phillies in 2008, Burrell headed to the plate 5,388 times and batted .257/.367/.485 (120 wRC+) with 251 home runs and 16.8 wins above replacement. Burrell’s Phillies tenure concluded with a World Series win over his next team, the Rays.
Tampa Bay brought Burrell in on a two-year, $16MM contract in January 2009, but the deal proved to be an unmitigated disaster for the franchise. Burrell was among the majors’ worst players in Year 1 of the deal; after Burrell got off to a similarly poor start through 24 games in 2010, the Rays designated him for assignment before releasing him with $9MM left on his contract.
Tampa Bay likely figured Burrell was shot when it parted with him. Little did the Rays know he’d end up as a dirt-cheap contributor on a title-winning club just a few months later. San Francisco owned a 29-24 record when it promoted Burrell to the majors on June 4, and it went 63-46 the rest of the way to win its division by two games over San Diego. Pat the Bat played an instrumental role in the Giants’ narrow defeat of the Padres. During a 96-game, 341-plate appearance renaissance, Burrell slashed .266/.364/.509 (136 wRC+) with 18 HRs and 2.8 WAR as the Giants’ primary left fielder.
Burrell’s numbers dropped in San Francisco’s playoff series wins over the Braves, Phillies and Rangers, but it didn’t faze the Giants. The franchise took home its first championship since 1954, back when it was the New York Giants, and went on to win two more in the ensuing four seasons. Burrell wasn’t part of either of those 2012 or ’14 clubs, but he did return to the Giants for his final season in 2011 – this time on a major league contract – and log solid production in 219 trips to the plate. Almost a decade after the Giants first signed Burrell, it’s fair to say he still ranks as one of the best in-season minor league signings ever.
Better do just a bit more research Connor – Pat the Bat played Left Field, not Right!
That he did. Thanks.
Pat the Bat is an example of why ALL Teams should take chances on Minor League FA’s
No kidding. It seriously gets annoying seeing some guy who thinks he’s funny in every comment section for a minor league FA signing saying, “World Series here we come!” You never know if you’ve picked up the next Pat Burrell. It’s not likely, but you never know.
It wasn’t just Pat Burrell. A minor league contract and non-roster invitation to spring training in 2009 for Andres Torres helped very much in 2010. Sadly he never could match that level of production again.
Also, buster Posey was mid season call up. Giants had an amazing string of calculated and lucky moves that all had to work for that team to win. I believe they were one the biggest underdogs ever that went on to win it all. Don’t quote me on that though my memory is a bit fuzzy.
I would not be unhappy to have the phrase “dumpster diving” auto-deleted as well. These guys made it to MLB, clearly uber-talent is there. Sometimes a player needs a new city or voice…
Geez! Could we have one comment section where every one of these wannabe journalists and baseball card stat crunchers aren’t trying to correct grammar or point out mistakes? I mean really! If you see a mistake, get over it already! Life moves on regardless and I promise tomorrow will still be ok in your small enclosed world where grammar or some stat that you read in a magazine is one tick off! Better yet, I think they advertised for two writers today. Apply and do your own writing instead of being a keyboard troll! Rant over and goodnight!
I said the same thing on the post announcing they were hiring!
There’s a difference between a grammatical mistake and a mistake of facts. Journalists are supposed to get the facts right.
He also had some pretty funny cameos as “The Machine” in some ridiculous videos Brian Wilson used to make. Totally forgot about that until just now.
OH MY GOD
you pulled these out of the deepest depths of my memory
I feel like I wanna rage….right now.
The things you cant unsee…
The point of the article contradicts mlbtr mantra of high priced free agent signings, Burrell was a phillie, signed a contract with the Tampa that didn’t work out and came back with the giants on a minor league deal. 2nd deal worked with the giants then retired.
There are still to this day stories in Philly of dudes girlfriends getting “Burrelled.” Pat the Bat is a legend and always will be.
Pat the Bat! I still laugh thinking about him high stepping it around the bases. I miss him.
Imagine an article like this 10 years from now referring to the date Zadhi made a dozen transactions in a day and the Giants went on to lose every game for the remainder of the season.
Can we DFA Pomeranze?
I believe he’s now a scout for the Giants. Good to still have him around.