Hurricane Hall of Famer Pat Burrell Added to Giants Coaching Staff
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame member Pat Burrell was promoted to the San Francisco Giants coaching staff, the organization announced.
Burrell, who played for the Hurricanes from 1996-1998, was added to the Major League staff as the Giants’ hitting coach. He spent the past four seasons as a roving hitting instructor in the organization.
The Bay Area native played 12 years in the big leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays and Giants. A two-time World Series champion, the outfielder posted a .253/.361/.472 slash line with 292 home runs and 976 RBI in 1,640 career games.
Prior to being selected by the Phillies with the first overall pick in the 1998 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Burrell notched a .442 batting average and an .886 slugging percentage, which both rank first in program history. Meanwhile, his 61 career homers and 465 total bases both check in second.
During his junior season at The U, Burrell became the lone Hurricane to win the coveted Golden Spikes Award, presented by USA Baseball to the nation’s top amateur baseball player.
Despite missing 38 games due to a back injury, Burrell still recorded 17 home runs and drove in 47 runs, leading the Hurricanes to the College World Series for the third straight campaign.
As a sophomore in 1997, the power-hitting right-handed slugger tallied a .409 average with 21 homers and 76 RBI en route to being named an All-American for the second time in as many years.
His rookie season is widely regarded as one of the best in college baseball history, as Burrell became the first freshman in NCAA Division I history to lead the country in hitting with a .484 batting average. He totaled 23 home runs and 64 RBI to guide Miami to the College World Series championship game, becoming only the third player all-time to win World Series MVP honors when his team didn’t win the title.
Burrell and the Giants open their 2024 slate against the San Diego Padres on March 28.
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