A Q&A with Marlins outfielder prospect Peyton Burdick, a fast riser in Miami’s system
If you want to talk about fast risers among Miami Marlins prospects, outfielder Peyton Burdick is at the top of the list.
Burdick, a third-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft out of Wright State University, was the Marlins’ Minor League Player of the Year last season after hitting .224 with a .367 on-base percentage, 823 on-base-plus-slugging mark, 23 home runs, 53 RBI and 76 runs scored. He spent the final two weeks of the season with the Triple A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp after playing the entirety of the season to that point with the Double A Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
He’s among the Marlins’ top outfielder prospects along with JJ Bleday and Griffin Conine.
And he knows the chance to make his MLB debut could come as early as this year.
Burdick spoke with a group of reporters on Friday in Jupiter following one of their development camp workouts at the club’s training complex at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Here are the highlights.
What is it like to be back out here?
“It’s great to have some schedule again. You go into the offseason getting your body healed up, working out a little bit, putting some weight back on and then getting out here with the guys again is really fun and having a set schedule helps.”
How disappointing is it that big leaguers aren’t able to be here? (Note: Players on 40-man rosters are not allowed at team facilities or to have contact with their MLB club during the ongoing lockout)
“It’s definitely a bummer. You love learning from those guys. I hope we can figure something out soon and get back out on the field.”
When we spoke to you last, you said one of the things you wanted to work on was facing fastballs up in the zone. How much have you been able to work on that and will that continue to be a focal point?
“I came down for hitters camp in early December and I was working with our great coaching staff that we have here and our hitting guys and I was really tightening up the top of the zone and learning how to get on time for that and make a good swing on high heaters.”
Have any goals in place for 2022?
“I like taking it day to day. I’m kind of waiting until we get closer to the season to set goals so that way I know really where I’m at. I’m still kind of getting back into the swing of things right now and trying to figure that out. So once that time comes I will assess.”
You mentioned being down here at camp helps with setting a schedule and getting some regularity in your routine. What was your typical day like this offseason? (Burdick spent the offseason back home in Cincinnati)
“I’d wake up around 8:30, eat some breakfast, head to the gym at around 10 to work out for a couple hours and then at like 12:30, I’d head up to another building to go hit with all the local pro guys in the area.”
What did you learn about yourself last season?
“So last year was really my first full season and I never really got to experience it. There’s nothing you can really do to simulate that. It was nice to get that exposure of the long season and and really how taxing it is on your body and mentally. Some days are better than others and that was really one thing that opened my eyes this year.”
You received some steady playing time in center field. Are you getting comfortable there?
“I felt pretty comfortable. I like going out there and just competing. I just like going out there and getting after it with the guys and making some plays for our pitcher. I don’t really set crazy high expectations. I just like to go out there and have fun.”
You spent the last couple weeks of the 2021 season in Triple A. Did the realization step in of how close you are to the big leagues?
“The guys [in Triple A] really taught me to be where my feet are. Sometimes you like to think too far ahead and you’ve got to pull yourself back to reality and just be in the moment where your feet are so that was like a really good thing for me and getting a taste out there and get my feet wet.”
How do you stay grounded in that type of situation?
“Just going day to day. You try not to think about the next day. You try not to think about yesterday. You just try to keep that level head and use the momentum that you get from one day and take them to the other.”
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