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JUPITER, Fla. -- Scanning the crowd of about 100 behind the fence at Field Two at Roger Dean Stadium, A.J. Burnett turned to a group of Marlins minor leaguers and said, "I didn't know you guys got this many fans every day."
The players' reply? "We don't."
The modest gathering was on hand to watch Burnett throw his first rehab assignment in his quest back from Tommy John surgery.
Facing entry-level minor leaguers, Burnett, predictably, was overpowering. But more than the results, the Marlins were pleased at how their hard-throwing right-hander was in total command of his pitches.
In 4 1/3 innings, Burnett tossed 68 pitches, 46 of which were strikes. He struck out seven, walked one and scattered three hits, all singles.
"I'm game-ready," he said.
Barring any setbacks, Burnett is on pace to return on June 2 against the Reds at Pro Player Stadium. Should the Marlins add a fourth rehab start, instead of the scheduled three, he would take the mound on June 8 at Cleveland.
"I have to stay within myself and be nice and easy," said Burnett, an overpowering right-hander who promises to make the Marlins rotation even more formidable.
Right out of the chute, Burnett showed why he is the team's most feared pitcher.
His first two pitches were clocked at 98 mph. But more than velocity, the Marlins are looking for command.
Burnett polished off the Cardinals' extended spring lineup on eight pitches in the first inning. He struck out the side in the second inning, with all three batters swinging at third-strike curveballs.
"We were worried about his curveball being sharp," said pitching coach Wayne Rosenthal. "That's often the last pitch to come around. It seems like in his batting practices and [simulated] games, that curveball is coming around."
Burnett has been so dominant, in the second inning, he drew a check-swing strike on a curveball that was clearly out of the strike zone. The strike was called after an appeal was made to the first base umpire.
From the Cardinals bench, a player shouted, "Come on, he's going to strike out anyway."
Burnett noted that the batters weren't Major League-ready, but said that the game situation is what mattered. After retiring the first six hitters he faced on 21 total pitches (16 strikes), Burnett had to work in the third inning. He gave up a hit and a walk, which forced him to throw out of the stretch for the first time. He registered one strikeout on a 98 mph fastball after tossing in the 96 mph range most of the inning.
"I felt strong," said Burnett, who joked that he did have one pitch get away, striking a camera behind home plate.
Burnett's next rehab assignment will be for Class A Jupiter at Brevard County on May 23. From there he will go against either Double-A or Triple-A competition on May 28.
"This gets him in game situations with hitters, holding runners on, working with an umpire," said Rosenthal. "It gets him back into being game-ready. Not pitching in a game in over a year, it doesn't matter if it's an extended game at all."
As with every throwing session, how Burnett's elbow responds the next day is critical.
"After his 'pens and simulated games, he's felt great the next day throwing long toss," said Rosenthal. "I don't expect anything different."
The players' reply? "We don't."
The modest gathering was on hand to watch Burnett throw his first rehab assignment in his quest back from Tommy John surgery.
Facing entry-level minor leaguers, Burnett, predictably, was overpowering. But more than the results, the Marlins were pleased at how their hard-throwing right-hander was in total command of his pitches.
In 4 1/3 innings, Burnett tossed 68 pitches, 46 of which were strikes. He struck out seven, walked one and scattered three hits, all singles.
"I'm game-ready," he said.
Barring any setbacks, Burnett is on pace to return on June 2 against the Reds at Pro Player Stadium. Should the Marlins add a fourth rehab start, instead of the scheduled three, he would take the mound on June 8 at Cleveland.
"I have to stay within myself and be nice and easy," said Burnett, an overpowering right-hander who promises to make the Marlins rotation even more formidable.
Right out of the chute, Burnett showed why he is the team's most feared pitcher.
His first two pitches were clocked at 98 mph. But more than velocity, the Marlins are looking for command.
Burnett polished off the Cardinals' extended spring lineup on eight pitches in the first inning. He struck out the side in the second inning, with all three batters swinging at third-strike curveballs.
"We were worried about his curveball being sharp," said pitching coach Wayne Rosenthal. "That's often the last pitch to come around. It seems like in his batting practices and [simulated] games, that curveball is coming around."
Burnett has been so dominant, in the second inning, he drew a check-swing strike on a curveball that was clearly out of the strike zone. The strike was called after an appeal was made to the first base umpire.
From the Cardinals bench, a player shouted, "Come on, he's going to strike out anyway."
Burnett noted that the batters weren't Major League-ready, but said that the game situation is what mattered. After retiring the first six hitters he faced on 21 total pitches (16 strikes), Burnett had to work in the third inning. He gave up a hit and a walk, which forced him to throw out of the stretch for the first time. He registered one strikeout on a 98 mph fastball after tossing in the 96 mph range most of the inning.
"I felt strong," said Burnett, who joked that he did have one pitch get away, striking a camera behind home plate.
Burnett's next rehab assignment will be for Class A Jupiter at Brevard County on May 23. From there he will go against either Double-A or Triple-A competition on May 28.
"This gets him in game situations with hitters, holding runners on, working with an umpire," said Rosenthal. "It gets him back into being game-ready. Not pitching in a game in over a year, it doesn't matter if it's an extended game at all."
As with every throwing session, how Burnett's elbow responds the next day is critical.
"After his 'pens and simulated games, he's felt great the next day throwing long toss," said Rosenthal. "I don't expect anything different."