Jan. 20, 2010

Contact B-CU SID Mark Johnson (386) 481-2206 -

Mayaguez, Puerto Rico -

Burgos Named Puerto Rican Winter League Rookie of the Year

With the B-CU 2010 opening day less than a month away, former Wildcat star pitcher Hiram Burgos was making big news being named the Puerto Rican Winter League Rookie of the Year this week.

Burgos, a sixth round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the June 2009 MLB Draft, was excited about his recent honor and will report to the Milwaukee Brewers training camp in Arizona March 9.

"Before the (Puerto Rican) Winter Season, I set my mind and challenged myself to have a great season," said Burgos.  "I am pitching with a lot of confidence and the command of my pitches is good and I am working hard and executing my pitches."

Burgos is pitching for the Mayaguez team who is competing in the Puerto Rican League playoffs - but Hiram has been "shut down" by the MLB Brewers franchise to have Burgos' pitching arm rested and at full strength for the start of spring training. "I'm getting more experience and pitching at any level you always need to pitch with a plan and execute. This is a great honor (Rookie of the Year) as the Mayaguez team does not use a lot of rookies on their team," said Burgos.

Following the 2009 NCAA season and after the June MLB Draft, Hiram pitched last Summer in the MLB Rookie League for the Brewers team in Helena, Montana. Burgos expects to pitch in one of the Brewers Class A leagues in 2010.