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MLBFeature
A.J. Burnett Returns to the City That Gave Him ‘New Life’
TL;DR
A.J. Burnett returned to PNC Park to throw a ceremonial first pitch before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He expressed happiness to be back in Pittsburgh, where he spent three years with the Pirates.
Key points
- A.J. Burnett returned to PNC Park
- He threw a ceremonial first pitch
- The game was against the Tampa Bay Rays
- Burnett played for the Pirates for three years
- He expressed happiness to be back in Pittsburgh
A.J. BurnettPittsburgh PiratesTampa Bay Rays
Photo provided by Eddie Provident
PITTSBURGH — A.J. Burnett’s visits with the Pirates are starting to become a regular occurrence.
After spending some time with the club during spring training, Burnett returned to PNC Park to throw out a ceremonial first pitch ahead of Friday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Burnett is happy to be back in the city and the ballpark he called home for three years.
“Man, it’s great,” he said. “Flew in this morning with [sons A.J. and Ashton], and seeing all the guys in the clubhouse and actually walking in the stadium from the hotel, it just brings back everything. I had every hair on my body standing up on my walk over here. And the greetings from everybody is great. You see them left and right. They don’t leave me alone. It’s awesome so far.”
Burnett became a fan favorite during his time with the Pirates after he was acquired from the New York Yankees prior to the 2012 season. The right-hander went 16-10 with a 3.51 ERA during his first year in Pittsburgh and helped lead the Pirates to their first playoff appearance in two decades in 2013.
After spending the 2014 season with the Philadelphia Phillies, Burnett returned to the Pirates for one final year and was named an All-Star for the first time in his career. He ended his final season in the big leagues with a career-best 3.18 ERA.
“It’s great to see him back,” manager Don Kelly said before Friday’s game. “We’ve talked about what he means to Pittsburgh, what he meant to those ’13 and ’15 teams.”
In addition to throwing out the first pitch on Friday, Burnett will help celebrate the launch of the new City Connect uniforms, which the Pirates are debuting in their game against the Rays.
Q&A
Why did A.J. Burnett return to Pittsburgh?
A.J. Burnett returned to Pittsburgh to throw a ceremonial first pitch and reconnect with the city he played in for three years.
What team did A.J. Burnett throw the first pitch for?
A.J. Burnett threw the ceremonial first pitch for the Pittsburgh Pirates before their game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
How long did A.J. Burnett play for the Pirates?
A.J. Burnett played for the Pittsburgh Pirates for three years.
What event did A.J. Burnett participate in at PNC Park?
A.J. Burnett participated in a ceremonial first pitch event at PNC Park.
