Former Maryland pitcher Sean Burke’s path in the major leagues has been defined less by immediate success and more by how quickly he can adjust. Burke is learning that success in the major leagues starts with a growth mindset.
Now a starting pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, Burke has made four appearances this season, including three starts as he continues to establish himself in the rotation. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound right-hander has posted an 0-2 record with a 4.43 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 20.1 innings.
The Massachusetts native made his big league debut in 2024 with the White Sox after being drafted in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Burke pitched two years at Maryland, posting a 2.97 ERA with 142 strikeouts and 53 walks.
When Burke first arrived in the majors, Burke did more than just hold his own. He showed real tenacity. In his initial stint in 2024, he posted a 1.42 ERA across 19 innings, striking out 22 batters and holding opponents to a .174 average. It was a small sample, but it showed what the White Sox believed they were developing — a pitcher capable of missing bats and competing at the highest level.
Burke made 28 appearances (22 starts) in 2025, posting a 4.22 ERA with 133 strikeouts and 63 walks in 134.1 innings in 2025. The biggest challenge was not what happened on the mound. It was everything around it.
“I think last year was just kind of navigating the everyday life of the big league season,” Burke said on Glenn Clark Radio April 7, “and getting used to the schedule.”
That learning curve is what often defines a young pitcher’s trajectory. Burke did not try to rush through it. He used his rookie season as a foundation, one that extended beyond flashes of success and into the reality of becoming a starting pitcher for the White Sox.
By the following season, that progression showed up in a different way as Burke took on a heavier workload. It was proof that he could handle the demands of a major league rotation while continuing to develop.
That process carried into the offseason.
“I’ll look at some stuff I did last year that I can improve on and just kind of get to work on that in the offseason,” Burke said. “Coming into the spring, I’ve been feeling good with some of the stuff we’ve been trying to work on, so I’m excited to keep going this year.”
That steady, process-driven approach reflects where the White Sox are as a team. Chicago is working to take a step forward after recent struggles, and for Burke, that means being part of a group focused less on outside expectations and more on internal standards.
“We’re all trying to independently improve,” Burke said, “and try to get to where we need to be for the team to take the next step.”
That improvement, he says, is rooted in trust.
“There’s more of a confidence in ourselves, and we believe in each other,” Burke said. “We like playing with each other, and we’re just trying to show up every day and do our individual stuff that makes the team better.”
Inside the clubhouse, that mindset shows up in the details — time spent together, shared accountability and a collective push forward.
“Just being around the guys, spending time, we understand that we all want to be better,” Burke said. “That’s kind of the main message from everybody.”
It is also showing up in expectations.
“We’re trying to help each other out when we can,” Burke said. “We’re trying to raise the standard of how we want to play.”
That standard, he makes clear, is not flexible.
“We’re not going to be satisfied with a mediocre season,” Burke said. “We all want to go out there and play winning baseball.”
For Burke, that motivation extends beyond the clubhouse. Now that he has settled into the majors, he has developed a strong connection with the city he represents. It continues to drive him as he grows into his role.
“I love Chicago, honestly,” Burke said. “Chicago is my favorite city in the country now that I’ve been to every single place you can be. We’re trying to play well because we know they care so much and we want to give them a good product.”
For more from Burke, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Darren Georgia/White Sox