The Tampa Tribune
Published: March 5, 2008
Updated: 11:35 pm
One year ago, Michael Burgess was arguably the area's most-feared high school hitter as a senior at Hillsborough High.
Now, the former Terriers slugger is gearing up for his first full professional season in the Washington Nationals farm system and is hoping to make a name for himself on an even bigger stage.
Burgess, selected by Washington with the No. 49 pick in the 2007 draft, will be on a fast track to the big leagues if he performs the way he did in his first half-season as a pro.
In 55 games last year between the Gulf Coast League and short-season Class A New York-Penn League, Burgess hit a combined .318 with seven doubles, four triples, 11 home runs and 42 RBIs, with an on-base percentage of .421 and a slugging percentage of .561.
The standout performance led Baseball America to tab Burgess the fourth-best prospect in the Nationals' farm system.
Burgess attended part of his high school alma mater's baseball game against Plant on Feb. 22 at Wade Boggs Field, the day before he was scheduled to report to Nationals training camp in Viera. The Tribune caught up with Burgess to find out how he spent his offseason and what he's hoping to accomplish in his first full season as a professional.
Let's start with your TV appearance. We saw you in the new Under Armour commercial that debuted during the Super Bowl. What was that experience like?
It was fun. It was also too cold for me filming in New York in January. I don't like cold weather too much, especially when I'm just in an Under Armour shirt; a polo at that, with no sleeves on. But it was a good experience overall. I got a chance to meet a lot of football guys. I didn't get to meet too many baseball players, but it was a good thing.
What was it like being around superstar athletes, guys like Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, while you're one still trying to make a name for himself in his game?
Being around those guys makes me push harder. I want to get to where they're at, making the big dollars they're making and all the big-time commercials and things like that. I want to get there.
Last season, a very good one in the minors for your first year. Would you agree?
Yeah, I would agree. It was cool. I had to prove myself to other people that my senior year at Hillsborough was a big mistake. I just had too many people in my ear, telling me how to hit and do other stuff instead of just listening to myself and doing what I was comfortable with.
Do you think you proved everybody wrong with the performance you were able to put together in the limited amount of time you had?
Yeah, I think I proved a lot of people wrong. I hit .336 in rookie ball and I hit .286 in Class A ball, with 11 home runs. Hey, I let my numbers speak for themselves.
What have you been doing during the offseason?
I've just been working out, lost a couple of pounds, just did my normal thing. They had me in instructional league for about three weeks, but that was about it. I just did the things they told me to do; lose a couple of pounds and make sure I keep my bat right. So I've just been working out and been in the cage a little bit.
Talk about your expectations for this year. What are you hoping that your second year is going to hold?
Well, I'm just trying to be on the fast track, man. I just want to play the season, do my thing and be up there in the major leagues like the Upton brothers the Rays' B.J. and the Diamondbacks' Justin. They got up there fast, and I think I can get up there fast, too.
Have the Nationals given you any indication where you'll start the season?
I heard Hagerstown, which is the low Class A, full season, but no telling man. It doesn't matter where I'm at. I just have to perform.
How long do you think it will be until we see you in the show?
Next year.
Adam Adkins
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