Andy Burns

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Andy Burns

| image = Andy Burns (25923708962).jpg

| width = 250

| caption = Burns with the Blue Jays in 2016

| position = Infielder

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|8|7}}

| birth_place = Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = May 9

| debutyear = 2016

| debutteam = Toronto Blue Jays

| debut2league= KBO

| debut2date = March 31

| debut2year = 2017

| debut2team = Lotte Giants

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = June 22

| finalyear = 2021

| finalteam = Los Angeles Dodgers

| final2league = KBO

| final2date = October 14

| final2year = 2018

| final2team = Lotte Giants

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .111

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 0

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 0

| stat2league = KBO

| stat21label = Batting average

| stat21value = .285

| stat22label = Home runs

| stat22value = 38

| stat23label = Runs batted in

| stat23value = 121

| teams =

Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2016}})
Lotte Giants ({{by|2017}}–{{by|2018}})
Los Angeles Dodgers ({{mlby|2021}})

}}

Andrew David Burns (born August 7, 1990) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays and in the KBO League for the Lotte Giants.

High school and college

Burns graduated from Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2008. The Colorado Rockies selected him in the 25th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft, but he opted to attend college. Burns enrolled at the University of Kentucky, and played college baseball for the Kentucky Wildcats baseball team. He was named the Southeastern Conference's freshman of the week for the week ending May 10, 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/051109aaa.html |title=Andy Burns Named SEC Freshman of the Week - Kentucky Wildcats Official Athletic Site |publisher=Ukathletics.com |date=May 11, 2009 |accessdate=March 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317214549/http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/051109aaa.html |archive-date=March 17, 2014 |url-status=dead }} In 2010, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|author= |url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=56443 |title=#3 Andy Burns - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |date= |accessdate=January 9, 2020}} Burns transferred to the University of Arizona, where he intended to continue his collegiate career with the Arizona Wildcats baseball team. After sitting out a season due to the National Collegiate Athletic Association's rules on transferring between schools, the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 11th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.kyforward.com/our-sports/2013/09/04/chris-curley-taylor-rogers-headline-2013-blugrass-baseball-all-milb-team/ |title=Chris Curley, Taylor Rogers headline 2013 BluGrass Baseball All-MiLB Team | Our Sports |publisher=Kyforward.com |date=September 4, 2013 |accessdate=March 17, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326172249/http://www.kyforward.com/our-sports/2013/09/04/chris-curley-taylor-rogers-headline-2013-blugrass-baseball-all-milb-team/ |archivedate=March 26, 2014 }}

Professional career

=Toronto Blue Jays=

==Minor leagues==

File:Andy Burns Lansing 2012.jpg

Burns signed with the Blue Jays and made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays, before being promoted to the Vancouver Canadians of the Low–A Northwest League. In 2011, he played in 28 games and batted .250 with 3 home runs and 14 RBI.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=burns-001and|title=Andy Burns Minor, Fall & Winter League Statistics & History|work=Baseball-Reference|accessdate=September 17, 2015}} Burns played for the Lansing Lugnuts of the Single–A Midwest League in 2012, appearing in 78 games and hitting .248 with 9 home runs and 37 RBI.{{cite web|author=Photo by Larry Hook |url=http://www.mlive.com/lansing-sports/index.ssf/2012/06/lansing_lugnuts_profile_andy_b.html |title=Lansing Lugnuts Profile: Andy Burns, infielder from Fort Collins, Colo. |publisher=MLive.com |date= June 2012|accessdate=March 17, 2014}} Burns began the 2013 minor league season with the Dunedin Blue Jays of the High–A Florida State League, and was promoted at midseason to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Double–A Eastern League. He played in 128 games split between the two teams, and hit .288 with a career-high 15 home runs, 85 RBI, and 33 stolen bases. After the 2013 season, the Blue Jays assigned Burns to the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, where he was named player of the week in the fourth week of the six-week schedule.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/blue-jays-prospect-andy-burns-named-afl-player-of-the-week?ymd=20131105&content_id=63688560&vkey=news_tor |title=Blue Jays prospect Andy Burns named AFL Player of the Week | MLB.com: News |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com |date=November 5, 2013 |accessdate=March 17, 2014}} He batted .312 with 13 RBI in 21 games for the Rafters.

The Blue Jays invited Burns to spring training as a non-roster invitee in 2014,{{cite web|url=http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20140123/SPORTS/301230087/Andy-Burns-invited-major-league-camp-Toronto-Blue-Jays|title=Andy Burns invited to major league camp with Toronto Blue Jays|work=The Coloradoan|accessdate=November 19, 2014}} but he did not make the team, returning to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats for the entire 2014 season. He would play in a career-high 133 games that season, batting .255 with 15 home runs, 63 RBI, and 18 stolen bases. In the offseason, he appeared in 12 games for the Bravos de Margarita of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, and hit .205 with 5 RBI. Burns began the 2015 season in New Hampshire, and earned a promoted to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on April 17. He would play in 132 total games in 2015, batting .291 with 5 home runs and 46 RBI.

Burns was invited to Major League spring training on January 12, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2016/1/13/10760494/blue-jays-invite-14-to-spring-training|title=Blue Jays Invite 14 to Spring Training|work=bluebirdbanter.com|date=January 12, 2016|accessdate=January 13, 2016}} He was optioned to Triple-A at the end of spring training.{{cite web|url=http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/170923704/where-blue-jays-top-30-prospects-start-season|title=Where the Blue Jays' Top 30 prospects are starting the season|last=Rosenbaum|first=Mike|work=MLB.com|date=April 7, 2016|accessdate=April 8, 2016|archive-date=September 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906090752/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/170923704/where-blue-jays-top-30-prospects-start-season/|url-status=dead}} At the time of his call-up to the Blue Jays in May, he was hitting .250 with 9 doubles, 2 home runs, and 10 RBI for the Bisons.{{cite web|url=http://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2016/05/06/andy-burns-promoted-blue-jays/84031004/|title=Rocky Mountain grad Andy Burns promoted to Blue Jays|last=Lytle|first=Kevin|work=coloradoan.com|date=May 6, 2016|accessdate=May 6, 2016}}

==Major Leagues==

On May 6, 2016, Burns was called up by the Blue Jays.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-bring-andy-burns-option-ryan-tepera-bisons/|title=Blue Jays bring up Andy Burns, option Ryan Tepera to Bisons|last=Nicholson-Smith|first=Ben|work=Sportsnet|date=May 6, 2016|accessdate=May 6, 2016}} He made his Major League debut on May 9, striking out in a pinch-hitting appearance against the San Francisco Giants.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/encarnacion-powers-jays-win-over-giants-1.486955|title=Encarnacion powers Jays' win over Giants|work=TSN.ca|date=May 10, 2016|accessdate=May 10, 2016}} Burns was optioned back to Buffalo on May 17,{{cite web|url=http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/178635798/blue-jays-jimmy-paredes-activated-from-dl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518105135/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/178635798/blue-jays-jimmy-paredes-activated-from-dl|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 18, 2016|title=Blue Jays activate Paredes, promote Venditte|last=Chisholm|first=Gregor|work=MLB.com|date=May 17, 2016|accessdate=May 17, 2016}} and recalled by the Blue Jays on June 15,{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-recall-andy-burns-chad-girodo-triple-buffalo/|title=Blue Jays recall Andy Burns, Chad Girodo from triple-A Buffalo|last=Simmons|first=Jeff|work=Sportsnet|date=June 15, 2016|accessdate=June 15, 2016}} only to be returned on June 18.{{cite web|url=http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2016/6/18/11969012/troy-tulowitzki-activated-andy-burns-sent-down |title=Troy Tulowitzki activated, Andy Burns sent down |first=Tom |last=Dakers |date=June 18, 2016 |accessdate=June 18, 2016 |work=Bluebird Banter}} Burns was recalled by the Blue Jays on July 8, and optioned back to Triple-A on July 22.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-activate-estrada-morales-option-loup-burns/|title=Blue Jays activate Estrada and Morales, option Loup and Burns|last=Liddell|first=Mackenzie|work=Sportsnet|date=July 22, 2016|accessdate=July 22, 2016}} He was recalled once more on September 27, but did not appear in any additional games for the Blue Jays.{{cite web|url=http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2016/09|title=Toronto Blue Jays Transactions in September|work=MLB.com|accessdate=September 1, 2016|archive-date=September 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913073338/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2016/09|url-status=dead}} Burns appeared in ten games for the Blue Jays in 2016, scoring two runs and going hitless in six at-bats.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burnsan01.shtml|title=Andy Burns Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=October 5, 2016}} On December 2, Burns was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and assigned to Triple-A Buffalo after clearing waivers.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-outright-chris-colabello-andy-burns-off-40-man-roster/|title=Blue Jays outright Chris Colabello, Andy Burns off 40-man roster|work=Sportsnet|date=December 2, 2016|accessdate=December 3, 2016}} He was released by the Blue Jays organization on January 5, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_trn&lid=117|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421150258/http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_trn&lid=117|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 21, 2012|title=International League Transactions|work=Minor League Baseball|page=January 2017|access-date=January 12, 2017}}

=Lotte Giants=

On January 8, 2017, Burns signed a one-year, $650,000 contract with the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).{{cite web|url=http://sports.naver.com/kbaseball/news/read.nhn?oid=076&aid=0003035411|title='번즈 영입·레일리 재계약' 롯데, 외인 구성 완료|work=sports.naver.com|language=Korean|date=January 8, 2017|accessdate=January 8, 2017}} For the 2017 season, Burns slashed .303/.361/.499 with 15 home runs and 57 RBI in 116 games. In 2018, Burns played in 133 games for Lotte, hitting .268/.329/.513 with 23 home runs and 64 RBI. He became a free agent after the 2018 season.

=Toronto Blue Jays (second stint)=

On February 4, 2019, Burns signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays organization.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/andy-burns-542992|title=Andy Burns Stats, Fantasy & News|website=MLB.com}} He spent the 2019 season with the Triple–A Buffalo Bisons, posting a .275/.364/.470 slash line with 19 home runs and 63 RBI in 118 games. Burns did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html|title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=30 June 2020 }} On November 2, 2020, he elected free agency.{{Cite web|title=Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/full-list-of-2020-2021-milb-free-agents/|access-date=September 27, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 2, 2020 |language=en}}

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

On December 16, 2020, Burns signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He was assigned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers to begin the year. On June 12, 2021, Burns was called up to the major league roster.{{cite web|url=https://dodgers.mlblogs.com/dodgers-call-up-infielder-andy-burns-79b586b606c3|title=Dodgers call up infielder Andy Burns|work=Dodgers.com|first=Rowan|last=Kavner|date=June 12, 2021|accessdate=June 12, 2021}}

In his Dodgers debut, he recorded his first career MLB hit, an infield single off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kolby Allard and also pitched an inning.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/andy-burns-first-mlb-hit-30-years-old|title=5 years after MLB debut, he gets his first hit|work=mlb.com|first=Juan|last=Toribio|date=June 12, 2021|accessdate=June 13, 2021}} He had three hits in 11 at-bats over nine games for the Dodgers{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burnsan01.shtml|title=Andy Burns Statistics & History|work=Baseball Reference|accessdate=July 20, 2021}} and was designated for assignment on July 20.{{cite web|url=https://www.truebluela.com/2021/7/20/22585524/dodgers-roster-scott-alexander-injured-list-andy-burns-designated-for-assignment-josiah-gray|title=Scott Alexander to injured list, Andy Burns designated for assignment to make roster room for Josiah Gray|work=SB Nation|first=Eric|last=Stephen|date=July 20, 2021|accessdate=July 20, 2021}} He was released by the team the same day.{{Cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/|title=Major League Baseball Transactions|website=Major League Baseball}} He was later re-signed by the club and finished the season in Triple–A, where he hit .237 in 54 games with six homers and 24 RBI.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=burns-001and|title=Andy Burns Amateur, Minor, Fall, Winter & Korean League Statistics|work=Baseball Reference|accessdate=October 4, 2021}} The Dodgers added him to the post-season roster prior to Game 5 of the NLCS to replace an injured Justin Turner.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/10/dodgers-designate-uceta-for-assignment.html|title=Dodgers To Designate Edwin Uceta For Assignment|work=MLB Trade Rumors|first=James|last=Hicks|date=October 21, 2021|accessdate=October 21, 2021}} He had two at-bats as a pinch hitter in the series, grounding out in both appearances.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2021_NLCS.shtml|title=2021 NLCS Atlanta Braves over Los Angeles Dodgers (4-2)|work=Baseball Reference|accessdate=October 24, 2021}} The Dodgers outrighted him to the minors and removed him from the 40-man roster on November 5.{{cite web|url=https://www.truebluela.com/2021/11/5/22766115/dodgers-roster-scott-alexander-andy-burns-jimmie-sherfy-outright-40-man|title=Dodgers outright Scott Alexander, Andy Burns, and Jimmie Sherfy off 40-man roster|work=SB Nation|first=Eric|last=Stephen|date=November 5, 2021|accessdate=November 5, 2021}} Burns accepted the outright assignment and remained in the Dodgers organization.{{Cite web|url=https://dodgerblue.com/dodgers-news-andy-burns-accepted-outright-assignment/2021/11/10/|title=Dodgers News: Andy Burns Accepted Outright Assignment|date=10 November 2021}}

In the 2022 season he spent the whole year at Oklahoma City, playing in 90 games with a .223 average.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=4ebc22b8|title=2022 Oklahoma City Dodgers|work=Baseball Reference|accessdate=September 28, 2022}} He elected free agency on November 10, 2022.{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=August 29, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=13 November 2022 |language=en}}