Raul Burgos

Raul Burgos Castillo

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 210 lb.

• Born August 18, 1987 in Puerto Plata, Puerto Plata D.R.

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Raul Burgos is the older half-brother of outfielder Oscar Taveras. He was signed by the San Francisco Giants as a teenager in his native Dominican Republic before the 2007 season and made his professional debut that year in the Dominican Summer League. Pitching for the DSL Giants, he went 2-2, 3.23 in 32 games as a reliever, recording 11 saves. That good performance allowed him to move stateside in 2008, when he pitched for the AZL Giants. He had no decisions and an ERA of 5.00 in 8 appearances that year, then in 2009 was 2-0, 5.82 in 15 games for the same team while walking 13 batters in 17 innings.

The Giants released him after the 2009 season and he moved on to the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization in 2010. Playing for the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League, he improved slightly, to 1-1, 4.74 in 17 games. However, he gave up 34 hits in 24 2/3 innings, although his control improved, with 8 walks against 25 strikeouts. He moved to the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League in 2011, where he got more regular work. He pitched 67 innings in 36 outings, with a record of 2-4, 4.16 and 3 saves. However, his control problems returned, with 41 walks against 42 innings, and his career in organized baseball ended there.

In the Giants' organization, he had befriended young outfielder Juan Perez, a fellow Dominican, although the two were never teammates. Burgos would tell him "I have a kid brother who's going to be a superstar", referring to Taveras, who indeed became one of the top prospects in baseball before his life tragically ended in a car accident at age 22.