Published: July 06, 2008 12:43 am            

BASEBALL: New Albany grad Burton enjoying pro baseball in Evansville

Ever since his University of Louisville baseball career ended in June 2007, Daniel Burton has been doing something most baseball players can only dream about — getting paid to play the national pastime.

In fact, the New Albany High School graduate has enjoyed being a professional ballplayer so much that he sometimes needs a reminder that he receives a paycheck for his current occupation.

“Sometimes you forget you’re getting paid to play baseball,” said Burton, who is an outfielder for the independent Evansville Otters of the Frontier League. “But it’s not about getting paid. It’s about doing what you want to do. Basically, my job is coming to play every night.”

After his senior season at U of L, Burton joined the Otters near the midway point of the ‘07 season, playing 44 games. He mustered a .244 batting average with six home runs and 17 RBIs.

This year he has played in all but one of Evansville’s 43 games, primarily as the Otters’ starting center fielder. Entering Saturday’s game with Rockford, he was hitting .271 with four homers and 19 RBIs.

Even though the Otters have a losing record at 19-24 and are in last place in the Frontier League West Division, Burton likes his team’s new coaching staff, led by rookie manager Jason Verdugo.

“The new coaching staff is phenomenal,” Burton said. “Our pitching is good and our hitting is good. My hitting coach, Bobby Bell, is awesome.”

After playing first base his final year at U of L, the Otters put Burton back where he belonged — in the outfield.

Burton has been an outfielder the majority of his baseball career. He was a center fielder when he played at New Albany, and he played center and right field during the majority of his college career.

“I haven’t found the transition very hard,” Burton said about returning to the outfield after his stint at first base. “I’m back home pretty much.”

There have been two things Burton has had to adjust to in the pros.

The first is swinging a wooden bat, which is heavier than the aluminum bats he used in college.

“You find holes in your swing a lot easier,” Burton said.

Burton also plays in a game almost every day from mid-May to early September. That daily grind tests his mental toughness.

“It’s such a routine playing every night,” Burton said. “You have to maintain a high level of concentration because it’s a day-in, day-out grind.”

Players in the Frontier League have a wide range of experience. Some players have just completed their college eligibility and are getting their first taste of pro ball. Others are in their mid-20s and have played for minor-league teams with a major-league affiliation.

“I was surprised the most by the talent (in the Frontier League),” Burton said. “It’s a good league — a fun league.”

Burton says the pitching in the Frontier League is similar to the pitching at the college level.

“You won’t see a lot of guys throwing 90 (miles per hour), but a lot will throw in the 86-89 range. They throw a lot of off-speed pitches,” Burton said. “But don’t get me wrong — most guys can get it up there.”

Playing for the Otters has a special perk — you get to play your home games at historic Bosse Field.

The 93-year-old stadium is the third-oldest professional baseball park in the United States, trailing only Boston’s Fenway Park (built in 1912) and Wrigley Field (1914). The majority of the 1992 movie “A League of Their Own” was filmed at Bosse Field.

But Burton, who first played at Bosse Field in high school, says what makes the stadium so special is the Evansville baseball fans. The Otters average about 3,200 spectators per home contest.

“It’s a neat place,” Burton said. “The best thing about it is the people surrounding it. It’s neat to see what it means to them. Every fan should come to see a game there once. Plus it’s close to home.”

Only time will tell how long Burton will play pro ball and what level he will reach. But for now, he is just trying to improve his skills and enjoy the moment.

“When you talk to any player, their ultimate goal is to play with an affiliated team,” Burton said. “I’m just going to try to continue to get better and learn from my teammates. That’s what I concentrate on.”



DANIEL BURTON FILE

• HIGH SCHOOL: New Albany (2003 graduate)

• COLLEGE: Louisville

• OCCUPATION: Professional baseball player, Evansville Otters

• POSITION: Outfielder

• LEAGUE: Frontier League

• STATISTICS (as of Friday): .271 batting average, four home runs, 19 RBIs

        

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