AJ Burnett didn't know many of the members of the Pirates' pitching staff personally until Friday. He and Mitch Keller had talked (and Burnett called himself a fan), and obviously he knew about David Bednar. But as a whole, most of the pitchers on this Pirates team were just names.
So when he got to PNC Park's field Friday, he was touched by what he saw.
The Pirate pitchers wore "STFD" shirts for him, the phrase made infamous by Burnett barking at hitters after striking them out. Wil Crowe reached out to the Pittsburgh Clothing Company about a month prior about getting a shirt for the game. Long story short, he was sent 20 for the whole staff.
"I was like, you guys are trying to make a big tough guy cry," Burnett said about the gesture.
When A.J. Burnett is in the building, you dress for the occasion. pic.twitter.com/XFv7lgrUqV
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 7, 2023
It's not surprising that Burnett was given a gesture like that by a bunch of pitchers from a different generation of ball players. Burnett's impact on the organization is undeniable, being one of the main catalysts for turning around a two-decade long losing streak and helping the Pirates into the playoffs back in 2013.
It's why he and Russell Martin were welcomed back to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Pirates' home opener Friday, to kick off the 10th anniversary celebration of that 2013 team.
Yeah, 10 years. Crazy how time flies.
"It did before he [Martin] texted me yesterday like we were here yesterday," Burnett said. "I was like, 'you're right, it does feel like we were just here.' It went by pretty quick."
Martin hadn't touched a ball since he retired after the 2019 season. Burnett joked that it was more than he had since he hung it up after 2015. At Martin's request, the first pitch wasn't a curveball, though Burnett made it be known he still had a good one.
Since Burnett was a two-pitch pitcher for most of his career, you can guess what Martin got instead. And despite Burnett joking about it, they didn't turn the radar gun on for it:
It was a blackout, and while not nearly at the same level as that October night in 2013, it was the most the ballpark has buzzed in years, bringing in its largest crowd since 2016 with an announced attendance of 39,167.
"Just walking through the crowd, you sense that the buzzing, the energy, people are excited for the season," Martin said.
"I came here too, got out of the street, it was just a sea of black everywhere," Burnett said. "It's good to be back. I did call this place home, and from the time I've been here today, they've reassured me it is my home."
A lot of it felt familiar and natural. Well, except for one thing: Martin's smile.
"He's the guy that gets me locked in back there. And he's going to be like, heh," Burnett said, releasing a sarcastic chuckle.
Well, he didn't need to lock in. He got to just enjoy the game and a trip around the Pirates' clubhouse again postgame, catching up with Andrew McCutchen and telling other pitchers that they have a talented team.
Consider it a great ending that could make the big tough guy choke up a bit.
"It's an honor to throw the ball to him again, for one, and definitely for the city," Burnett said.
