Former Mets Relief Pitcher: Ambirox Burgos (2007)

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Ambiorix Burgos was born on April 19th, 1984 in Nagua, Dominican Republic. The six foot three, right hander was signed out of high school by the Kansas City Royals in 2000. At A ball Burlington he was used as a starter going 7-11 with a 4.38 & then was turned into a reliever.

He debuted with the Royals on Opening Day 2005 pitching one inning of relief against the Chicago White Sox. On May 11th he suffered his worst outing as the Blue Jays tagged him for four earned runs in 0.1 innings pitched blowing a winning effort. It was a tough week as he allowed three more runs in his next two outings as well. On the year he made 59 appearances going 3-5 with two saves posting a 3.98 ERA. He struck out 65 batters in 63 innings pitched. Burgos was certainly wild, as he threw eight wild pitches (tenth in the AL).

In 2006 he made a career high 68 appearances going 4-5, with eleven wild pitches (5th most in the AL) on a fifth place Royals team that lost 100 games. He continued blowing batters away with 72 strike outs in 73 innings pitched. Fellow Dominican General manager who always seemed to be trying to gather his fellow countrymen on his team, traded Brian Bannister for Burgos in December 2006.

Burgos began the year with the Mets debuting in the third game of the season in St. Louis pitching one inning against the Cardinals in the Mets 10-0 win. Two games later he allowed three earned runs to the Philadelphia Phillies in one inning of work raising his ERA over eight. He allowed earned runs in six of his seventeen appearances, striking out 19 batters while walking nine in 23 innings pitched.

On May 17th he earned a win pitching two innings against the Chicago Cubs, as the Mets rallied for five runs in the bottom of the 9th inning. At the end of May after 17 games he was sent down to the minors. He eventually needed Tommy John surgery & pitched a rehab assignment in August 2008 at St. Lucie. The Mets did not resign him & he was granted free agency.

In his three year career he is 8-10 with 156 strike outs 77 walks & a 4.60 ERA in 144 games pitched.

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