"I hope you can do what I did 25 years ago" - MLB icon Pedro Martinez challenges Orioles' Corbin Burnes after sharing that he will start All-Star Game
Baltimore Orioles superstar Corbin Burnes has proved yet again why he is one of the best pitchers in the MLB. The veteran starter has been electric this year, posting an excellent 9-4 record with a 2.43 ERA, 1.045 WHIP and 110 strikeouts. As a result of his tremendous season, Burnes has been named to his fourth consecutive All-Star Game.
Not only has Corbin Burnes been named to the All-Star Game, but he has also been named as the starting pitcher for the American League. The Orioles superstar received a phone call from Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez, informing him that Texas Rangers and American League Manager Bruce Bochy had selected him to start the All-Star Game.
Pedro, who played in eight different All-Star Games, even jokingly challenged Burnes to deliver an outing as strong as the one that he had in 1999.
"I hope you can do what I did 25 years ago," the Red Sox legend joked. "I'll do my best. That's a lot to keep up with," Burnes replied.
"@45PedroMartinez calls Corbin Burnes to tell him he's the starting pitcher for the American League in the #AllStarGame" - @MLB
"I'm extremely proud of you," Martinez continued. "I just wanted to tell you from my own voice that you have been assigned to start that important game."
The Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer referred to his record-setting performance during the 1999 All-Star Game. En route to the second Cy Young Award of his career, Pedro put on a show during the All-Star Game, becoming the first pitcher in history to strike out the first four batters of the event.
"Pedro MartÃnez in his prime (1999-2000) is the greatest pitcher that ever lived. 25 years ago today" - @PaulHembo
Martinez finished his All-Star appearance with five strikeouts in only two innings of work. It might be a tall order for Corbin Burnes to repeat this year, however, given his world-class skill, it would be foolish to rule it out.
Corbin Burnes is more than deserving of being named as the American League All-Star starter
Garrett Crochet of the Chicago White Sox, Cole Ragans of the Kansas City Royals, and Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers are other AL All-Stars who have been tremendous this year. That being said, the fact Burnes has been here before unlike the three players mentioned above could suggest why Bruce Bochy selected him to open the game.
The 29-year-old Baltimore Orioles star has been one of the most reliable starters in the MLB this season and will look to continue that momentum rolling during the All-Star Game. If he is going to reach the level of Pedro Martinez's 1999 performance, he will likely have to work his way through superstars such as Shohei Ohtani and Bryce Harper.