CAPITOL GAINS

Grizzlies’ infielder Emmanuel Burriss used baseball to escape the tough streets of Washington DC.

By David Taub
VSP Contributing Writer:

Washington, the nation’s capital, is known for its politics. It’s known for its poverty. It’s barely known for its baseball, and certainly not at producing Major League talent (the debate is still out on the Nationals).

Emmanuel Burriss is hoping to shed that image. When he debuted for the Giants in 2008, he became the first player in his generation to make to the Bigs hailing from Washington D.C. The last player was Willie Royster, whose career lasted four games with Baltimore in 1981.

“A lot of people helped me along the way,” Burriss said. “I hope I can take what I experienced back to DC to help the younger kids to get there as well.”

Washington may have a reputation as the most influential city in the world, but that reputation does not translate to its public schools. The notorious reputation makes Burriss’ accomplishments that much more impressive.

“It wasn’t as easy, but it helped make me who I am,” the second baseman commented on his upbringing. “It wasn’t a good time for anybody in the city. Things were kind of rough. But I had good parents and a strong background.”

Family involvement helped Burriss keep him on the right track. His mother, Denise, works for the federal government. His dad, Allen, runs a garbage company with a family friend.

Burriss certainly had the talent for baseball, but it took a lot more than that to evolve from a region dearth in high end talent. His parents would drive him many weekends for out-of-area tournaments. His coaches helped guide him both on and off the field.

The hard work paid off. After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School, he emerged at Kent State.

The challenge of inner-city life prepared Burriss for the transition to the Mid-American Conference. If he could conquer DC, then Kent, Ohio was no problem.

“Going up there was the better thing to do, getting out of the environment in DC.”

Baseball saved Burriss from being sucked into any of the negatives of DC life, idle hands, as Emmanuel says. He took to baseball early on and stuck with it.

Exceeding at Kent State, Burriss was named the 2006 MAC Player of the Year, batting .360 and leading the nation with 42 steals. His prowess may have gone unnoticed if it wasn’t coming off a stellar summer in the Cape Cod League, renowned for a maturation ground of young talent.

With his draft stock increased, Burriss was the 33rd overall pick in the 2006 draft, and hit .300 in his first professional season in short-season A ball with Salem-Keizer.

The following year, he split time with San Jose and Augusta. After struggling with the little Giants, only hitting .165, he found his stroke in the SAL, hitting .321 with 51 steals.

Burriss made the next jump to Fresno in 2008, and then the call to the bigs

“It was amazing. Everyday up there, I cherished it,” Burriss recalled. His contract was purchased by the Giants on April 20, 2008. “Luckily, I was in the right position at the right time.”

Splitting most of his games at shortstop and second during the year, Burriss emerged as a candidate for the starting second baseman role in 2009. He won out in spring training over the likes of Kevin Frandsen and Eugenio Velez.

But, light hitting forced the Giants to send him back to Fresno.

“Baseball is a game of adjustments. The most I can do is to work every day,” he says with a positive glare. “The second you feel defeated, is the second you will be.”

Learning from mentors in the Giants’ clubhouse like Aaron Rowand and Randy Winn, Emmanuel cares for his mates in Fresno, but is a muted when it comes to being a mentor himself.

“I need to focus on why I’m here….I try to show them by example of what it is like to be a big league player.”

Whether it is the DC in him or not, Burriss cares about the world around him. He proudly wears a Barack Obama necklace, given to him by his girlfriend. “It’s the way I can show support for the first black president.”

He also counts former Washington mayor Marion Berry as a family friend.

With his speed and glove, Burriss is too talented to stay in the minors for very long. While he may not have the pop in his bat that the Giants have lacked since the days of Jeff Kent, he makes up for it with his humble attitude and desire to once again be a Major Leaguer.

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