ATLANTA – Former Auburn closer Blake Burkhalter has called up by the Atlanta Braves with the expansion of Major League Baseball rosters for September, the Braves announced Tuesday.
Burkhalter becomes 65th former Auburn player to make it to the big leagues, including the 14th since the beginning of the 2020 season. That mark is good for the third most of any Southeastern Conference program during the span. He also becomes head coach Butch Thompson’s 27th pitcher to make the big leagues, including the 21st since 2014.
A three-year member of the Auburn baseball program from 2020-22, Burkhalter turned in a 3.01 ERA in 51 career relief appearances, striking out 104 batters in 71.2 innings pitched.
The Dothan, Alabama, native played a pivotal role during the Tigers’ 2022 College World Series season in which he ranked second in the country with 16 saves and struck out 71 batters while issuing just seven walks in 46.1 innings pitched. On the Tigers’ way to Omaha, Burkhalter earned saves in each of the two wins in the Corvalis Super Regional vs. Oregon State before also earning a save in the program’s first College World Series win since 1997 vs. Stanford. His effort earned him Second Team All-America and All-SEC honors while he was also named a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award.
The Braves drafted Burkhalter with the 76th overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft, making him the first college reliever selected that summer. He has made 77 career minor league appearances with the organization, including 33 starts, and has posted a 2.88 ERA over four seasons with Atlanta.
Primarily pitching for Triple-A Gwinnett, Burkhalter has posted a career best 1.26 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 11 walks in 35.2 innings in 2026. He returned to Double-A Columbus from a rehab assignment on June 17 and didn’t allow a run in his first 15 appearances with the Clingstones and Stripers.
Burkhalter and the Braves, who currently lead the National League East by four games, start a two-game set against the Nationals Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. CT at Nationals Park before a four-game series against division rival Philadelphia this weekend.