AJ Burnett Career Statistics and Pitching Records
AJ Burnett compiled a career 165-151 win-loss record with a 4.41 ERA over 18 MLB seasons, pitching primarily for the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Toronto Blue Jays. His strikeout totals and complete game counts reflect a power pitcher profile built on fastball velocity and sinker command, with detailed splits available on official league stat pages MLB Official Stats.
Across his career, Burnett recorded 1,983 strikeouts, 172 wild pitches, and 1,538 walks while maintaining a 1.315 WHIP, with his highest single-season win totals coming during his late-career stretch with the Pirates and early years with the Yankees Baseball Reference Profile.
Season-by-Season Performance Breakdown
Early Career and Yankees Stint
Burnett's early career included a no-hitter for the Yankees in 2001 and multiple seasons with double-digit win totals, anchored by a mid-90s fastball and a sweeping curveball that generated weak contact against left-handed hitters.
His later Yankees years saw declining run support and a spike in home runs allowed, which compressed his ERA and win totals despite maintaining stable strikeout and ground ball rates year over year.
Resurgence with the Pittsburgh Pirates
With the Pirates, Burnett posted his best late-career seasons, including a 12-9 record in 2014 and a 2.58 ERA in 2015, driven by improved command of his sinker and slider combination that induced a high ground ball rate.
His Pirates tenure also included a 13-9 campaign in 2014 where he led the National League in complete games, showcasing durability and a return to form as a frontline starter in the league's competitive NL Central division ESPN Player Page.
Key Performance Metrics and Advanced Analytics
Strikeout and Walk Rates
Burnett's career K/9 rate of 6.9 and BB/9 of 3.3 reflect a classic power pitcher profile, with his best seasons featuring K/9 rates above 7.5 and BB/9 rates below 3.0, indicating strong command and swing-and-miss ability on his fastball and curve.
Home Run and Fly Ball Rates
His career fly ball percentage hovered near 40%, with elevated home run rates in certain seasons, particularly during his early Yankees years when he allowed 25 or more home runs per season, a trend that moderated as he refined his pitch mix and location with the Pirates.
Final Career Totals and Legacy
AJ Burnett finished his career with 315 games started, 20 complete games, 4 shutouts, and a career 3.73 FIP, cementing a legacy as a durable mid-to-late career starter whose fastball velocity and sinker-based approach generated consistent ground balls and moderate strikeout rates across multiple franchises and eras FanGraphs Career Page.