Over the last few days, the Texas Longhorns have had a lot to celebrate as the 2026 MLB Draft finished up. A few familiar faces heard their names called, including reliever Thomas Burns. After a memorable run in Austin, Burns will look to continue improving his game under the Twins’ guidance.
In 42 appearances as a Longhorn, Burns posted a 4.59 ERA and struck out 83 batters. While serving as one of the main weapons out of the Texas bullpen, the Wisconsin native held opponents to a .183 batting average. He was also able to limit hard contact, allowing only seven home runs.
During his time at the Forty Acres, Burns was used in high-leverage situations. He finished his college career with eight saves, making the most of his closing situations. Due to his ability to succeed in any role, the Twins made Burns a priority in the eighth round before letting him slip any further in the draft.
Although Burns still has some areas to improve in, he brings an intriguing arsenal to the table. His fastball generates a lot of backspin, which makes it hard for batters to barrel up. The newest Twin also has a cutter that dives out of the zone that plays well off his fastball. That combination could be very hard to face in the majors if Burns adds another pitch.
As Burns begins the next chapter of his baseball career, he will have a teammate to rely on. Earlier in the draft, the Twins selected Burns batterymate Carson Tinney, who was one of the best catchers in the SEC. With Tinney and Burns in the same system, there will be plenty for Longhorns fans to watch for.
Now that his college career is officially in the books, Burns can focus on doing whatever it takes to get to the majors as quickly as possible.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Minnesota Twins draft former Longhorns reliever Thomas Burns in 8th rd
Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
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By Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire | USA TODAY Network
