Garrett Burhenn Scouting Report

Physical Description

Garrett Burhenn is a 6’3″, 215-pound right-handed pitcher. Born on September 12, 1999, in Indianapolis, Indiana, he attended Lawrence North High School and later played college baseball at Ohio State University. The Detroit Tigers selected him in the ninth round of the 2021 MLB Draft, 255th overall. ​He has a thick build, using his lower half to drive home with his delivery.

Fastball – 50

Burhenn’s fastball typically sits in the low 90s, occasionally reaching up to 96 mph, but there is video from the offseason that it is now touching 97-98. He utilizes both four-seam and two-seam variations; the four-seamer exhibits good carry, making it effective when elevated for swings and misses, while the two-seamer shows slight arm-side run with late sinking action. However, he has faced challenges with command, particularly with the four-seam fastball.

Garrett Burhenn works a scoreless 8th inning, touching 96 MPH four times and picking up a strikeout. pic.twitter.com/ptucYEVVHZ

— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) February 23, 2025

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Slider – 55

His slider operates in the mid-80s with 2-7 movement, providing notable depth. When commanded effectively, it serves as a reliable secondary offering, generating swings and misses, especially against right-handed hitters.

Curveball – 40

The curveball is thrown in the high 70s, featuring 11-5 movement. While it adds a different velocity band to his repertoire, it lacks significant depth and sharpness, making it a less effective offering compared to his slider.​ It acts like a get me over curve at the moment.

Changeup – 45

Burhenn’s changeup sits in the mid-80s and exhibits late fading action. Although it shows potential, its inconsistency limits its effectiveness against advanced hitters.​

Overall Outlook

In the 2024 season, Burhenn led all Tigers minor league pitchers with 122.1 innings pitched and ranked second in strikeouts with 123, splitting time between High-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie. His performance against right-handed hitters was strong, holding them to a .198 batting average; however, left-handed hitters found more success, batting .304 against him.

To progress within the organization, Burhenn needs to improve his effectiveness against left-handed batters and refine his command, particularly of his fastball. With continued development, he has the potential to contribute as a back-end starter or a middle-relief option at the major league level.