LHP Dane Burns, 17th round (497th) -- Kansas City Royals
B/T: R/L
Ht/Wt: 6’ 4” 195 lbs
Born: Dryden, Ont. Moved to: Winnipeg, Man., Regina, Sask.
Lives: Celina, Tex.
Committed: Mississippi State.
Scout: Bobby Shore.
Previous teams: Dallas Patriots, Allen HS, Prosper HS, Stix, Texas Sharks, Canada at 12u Cal Ripken World Series, Calgary Coyotes, Little League at Kiwanis ballpark in Regina.
Previous coaches: Logan Stout and Alex Barras, Paul Coe, Scott Holder and Clay Wilson, Robert Mendoza, Edward Fike and Micheal Garner, Steve Lloyd and Terry Dobson.
Good genes: “My dad, Chris, was a talented hockey player who was drafted as a goalie by the San Jose Sharks (ninth round, 195th overall in the 1992 NHL entry draft). An injury held him back but he turned to MMA for a little while. (His father Chris Burns played 56 games in goal for the Thunder Bay Flyers in the United States Hockey League from 1990-92, the University of Denver for 15 games from 1992-94 in the Div. I Western Collegiate Hockey Association.) “My mom, Chelsea, claims she could have been an Olympic swimmer but we don’t have proof so it’s all hearsay ... haha. My brother, Jaxson, played football through high school and now is about to get back into boxing after taking a break.”
The most influential person when in my baseball career: “Is my father. While he didn’t play ball growing up I know the sacrifices he made for his sport and how far he made it. While I know the injury that held him from playing weighs on him more than I can imagine, I feel it gives me every bit of motivation I need to perform at a high level. I know it doesn’t matter to him whether I play ball or am working a 9-to-5 but I want to be able to say WE made it when I get to the big leagues. He’s been my biggest supporter and I want him to know how good he did raising me as an athlete and everything he taught and continues to teach me throughout life. Without him, I would not be anywhere close to where I am today in the baseball world.”
The most influential person when it comes to my baseball career other than my dad: “Would be my former pitching coach Hobie Harris. He is currently in affiliate ball (triple-A St. Paul), but in my early pitching days working with him made me love the sport and art of pitching. While I haven’t gotten to work with him recently I keep in touch with him and his career. He taught me all the fundamentals and showed me how in-depth pitching is.”
Your best day on the ball field: “I’m a little biased about this but my best day on the field didn’t result in a good outing. Going under Tommy John surgery over a year and a half ago was a huge grind and process to work back from. My first outing in about two years came earlier this summer where I pitched two innings in a game. The first inning back involved some bloop hits but in the second inning, I struck out the side which reignited another level of passion. I knew it wasn’t the best outing ever but coming back from a surgery like that you question if what you had prior will still be in there. That day taught me not only was I back but better than ever.”
Pre-draft interest: “From the Royals, Brewers, Cubs, and Padres. It wasn’t all that much till a few days before the draft that major interest came from the Royals.”
Private workouts “With the Padres before heading to Keene Swamp Bats (in the New England college league) for summer ball.”
The player scouts compare you to: “I haven’t heard any scouts say who I remind them of but I have some teammates and other coaches tell me I look like Garrett Crochet in some ways.”
Bouncing back: “I’d only thrown nine innings in the past two years after Tommy John surgery and I feel not many knew I was a possibility till it happened.”
2024 summer Keene Swamp Bats, New England league _ 0-1 with 10.24 ERA in five games, making one start ... Walked six and struck out 16 in 9 2/3 innings.
2022 with Dallas Patriots _ Had a 1.50 ERA pitching 4 2/3 innings allowing one run on two hits and two walks, while he struck out six to earning All-Tournament honors.
2020 with Stix, Red _ Worked seven inning without allowing an earned run as he allowed four hits and three walks, while he struck out four to make the Perfect Game all-tournament team at the 15U South Championship in Tuttle, Oak.
2021 season with Stix Scout team _ Pitched eight innings without allowing an earned run as he allowed 13 hits and three walks, while striking out 10 to earn All Tournament honors at WWBA 17U South Championship in Dallas/Fort Worth.
Honors
2023 season _ Made Preseason All American Rawlings/Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All American All Region Second Team in Texas ... 2022 season _ Earned Rawlings/Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All American All Region Second Team in Texas ... with Dallas Patriots 17U -- Earned All-tournament team honors at WWBA World Championship in Jupiter Fla. ... WWBA Champion at Perfect Game National Select Championship in Tomball, Tex. ... 2021 season with Stix Scout team _ Gained All Tournament honor at WWBA 17U South Championship in Dallas/Fort Worth … 2020 season with Stix 2023 Red _ WWBA Champion Perfect South Elite Fall Championship (Sophomore) in Tomball, Tex.