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Burdi looking forward to wearing Chicago White Sox uniform

Zack Burdi finally arrived at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday as a professional baseball player.

The only thing missing was a Chicago White Sox uniform.

That's coming later for Burdi, a Downers Grove native and the Sox's first-round draft pick (No. 26 overall) on June 9 after a standout collegiate career at Louisville.

Actually, it's probably coming sooner than later.

“Of course I want to be here and I want to be with the guys and I want to keep playing baseball,” Burdi said. “I didn't want my season to end. But I'm happy with how the summer went. I'm happy with my first half year of pro ball.”

Burdi has every reason to be happy.

Powered by a fastball that he can run up to 103 mph, Burdi breezed through four minor-league levels and was a combined 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA in 26 relief appearances.

Pitching for the Arizona Rookie League White Sox, high Class A Winston-Salem, AA Birmingham and AAA Charlotte, the 21-year-old also had 51 strikeouts in 38 innings.

“I maxed out my expectations to the fullest,” said Burdi, who prepped at Downers Grove South High School. “What I did this summer was special, and I think building off that for next year is what my goal is now. I'm just happy with how it ended up, happy with how the guys were toward me. It was awesome.”

Growing up a White Sox fan, Burdi said workhorse starting pitcher Mark Buehrle was his favorite player.

“I was actually here, we were in those 320, 322 area suites, me and my travel team,” Burdi said. “One of the dads hooked us up and the next thing you know you're watching Buehrle's perfect game (on July 23, 2009). It was crazy and I remember it like it was yesterday.

“Growing up and being selected by them was a dream come true, for both me and my family.”

Historic win:

For the first time since May 11, 1949, and only the second time since record-keeping began in 1912, the White Sox scored in every inning while defeating the Indians 11-4 on Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

Avisail Garcia matched his career high with 4 hits and had a solo homer. Todd Frazier established a career high for home runs when he hit No. 36, a 2-run shot in the eighth inning.

“We swung the bat tonight,” manager Robin Ventura said. “All through the lineup, everyone seemed to be clicking. They didn't let up. It was early and it was often.”

Miguel Gonzalez (4-6) pitched 6⅔ innings and allowed 3 runs on 6 hits to get the win.

Present tense:

With a fourth straight losing year very possible and his contract up at the end of the season, there is a very good chance Robin Ventura is in his final three weeks as White Sox manager.

When asked about his status, Ventura sounded a lot like Sox general manager Rick Hahn.

“I'm not going to talk about it until the end of the year, until I sit down and talk to them,” Ventura said. “I think that's fair.

“I don't want it to be about me. I want them to go out and play hard. I don't want it to be a story, so that's why I chose just to wait until the end of the year.”

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