Burnett

BRADENTON, Fla. — Sean Burnett was supposed to be the starting pitcher who would play the most pivotal role in the Pittsburgh Pirates' long-anticipated turnaround.

That was three years ago — before Burnett blew out his left elbow and pitching prospects Zach Duke, Paul Maholm, Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny arrived.

That was before one year of rehabilitation and another of uneven pitching in the minor leagues transformed Burnett from a potential ace to just another pitcher with a longshot chance.

Burnett hasn't pitched in the majors in nearly three years, but he is certain that once he gets back — and he is convinced it won't be long — he will be there to stay.

"I know what I'm capable of, and being hurt gave an opportunity to some of these guys that came up and they took advantage of it," said Burnett, who was 5-5 with a 5.02 ERA in 2004. "I think when I'm healthy I'm as good as any of them, and I think I proved that before the (elbow) surgery and that's what I've got to prove now. When I'm healthy, I'm as good as anyone here."

Burnett was 21 when he won five starts in a row shortly after that midseason callup in 2004. No Pirates rookie had done that since Mike Dunne in 1987, and former manager Lloyd McClendon said it was obvious how the rest of the lineup picked up its play with Burnett on the mound.

Soon after he joined them, a Pirates team that would go on to finish 72-89 ran off a 10-game winning streak.

"This kid's makeup is off the charts," McClendon said. "He's not fazed by big situations and he proved it again."

After Burnett's five-game run ended, it was evident he wasn't the pitcher who had come up a couple of months before. He went on the disabled list Aug. 23 after three consecutive losses and had reconstructive surgery a month later. He didn't return to the mound again until he was 8-11 with a 5.16 ERA in 13 starts, about a half season's work, for Triple-A Indianapolis last season.

"I said I was ready last year, but it was more to psych myself up and try to get myself ready mentally," he said. "I knew I wasn't quite ready. I think I proved that with the year I had, being up and down. Everybody told me I was going to have that year after coming off surgery, it's a roller-coaster."

As a result, Burnett has a much lower profile in this camp than he did before the former first-round draft pick got hurt in 2004, when the Pirates didn't have as many starting pitching prospects as they do now. Manager Jim Tracy has praised his work to date this spring training, which consists of three scoreless innings.

General manager Dave Littlefield likes Burnett's competitiveness, and how being forced to pitch himself back into the Pirates' plans has motivated him rather than discouraged him.

"I see an improved fastball, more life to the fastball, more crispness to the breaking stuff, and I'm definitely encouraged that he's getting back to where he once was," Littlefield said. "In some ways, he's a more mature pitcher now, and appears to be very serious about wanting to make this team."