Justin Burns, a right-handed hurler from the University of California, San Diego, has signed with the Wisconsin Woodchucks. Burns is the second UCSD Triton to commit to the ‘Chucks, joining standout outfielder Danny Susdorf on the 2011 roster.
Hailing from Aptos, Calif., the 6-foot-2 Japanese Studies major joins a long line of southern Californians featured on Field Manager Guido Aspeitia’s roster.
Burns, a junior, is pitching in his first season at UCSD, after transferring from San Mateo Junior College for two seasons. In his first action at the Division II level, Burns has pitched very well for an extremely talented Tritons squad. Leading the team with 16 appearances, all out of the ‘pen, Burns currently has a 3.10 earned run average, a meager .216 opponent batting average, and an 18/4 strikeout-to-walk line, in 29.0 innings pitched.
Playing for the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship runner-ups, Burns has carved out a nice role on a ballclub that appears headed back to the D-II College World Series, boasting a 24-12 record on the spring.
Burns had a storied career at the College of San Mateo, where he led the Bulldogs to an appearance in the 2010 California Junior College State Championship game his sophomore season. Posting a 1.21 ERA with a 7-0 record, Burns’ work on the mound garnered an ABCA/Rawlings All-American selection.
