A's 1st-rounder Burress takes BP with team: 'It almost doesn’t feel real'

PHOENIX -- Drew Burress sat at a locker inside the Athletics’ clubhouse, chatting it up next to infielder Tommy White. Situated at a locker to Burress’ far right was left-hander Gage Jump, while first baseman Nick Kurtz sat at a locker on the opposite side, to his left.

All four of these players were playing college baseball just two years ago. White, Jump and Kurtz are now big leaguers. Burress, the eighth overall selection out of Georgia Tech in the 2026 MLB Draft, might not be all that far away from joining them.

“From everything I’ve seen, this organization isn’t scared to promote guys if they think they’re ready,” Burress said. “I just have to go out and do my part playing the game. I’m sure there are going to be times when it’s easy and times when it’s not. But, if I just continue to go out there and be myself, I think it can happen pretty quick.”

Traveling to Arizona this week to sign his professional contract at the club’s Spring Training complex in Mesa, Burress took the field with the A’s before Tuesday’s game against the D-backs at Chase Field and participated in a round of batting practice.

“Any time you get to take BP in a big league park, it’s pretty cool,” Burress said. “It’s definitely a little cooler when you get to take it with the big league players, too. That was a cool experience, just to get out here and hang out with some of the guys.”

Earlier in the day, Burress was accompanied by his parents for lunch with A’s general manager David Forst and A’s area scout Jemel Spearman, who scouted the 21-year-old outfielder.

“It’s honestly been so surreal,” Burress said. “It’s been a dream of mine for so long. You think about it and plan it out for such a long time, and when it finally comes true, it almost doesn’t feel real. It still feels like it’s part of the dream you’ve been dreaming. To have my family out here is awesome. They’ve been such a big part of me being the player and person I am today.”

Widely considered the best pure college hitter in this year’s Draft, Burress was elite at Georgia Tech and brings big-time 60-grade power, setting a school record with 60 home runs in three seasons. Yet, entering the Draft, some pundits pointed to his listed size of 5-foot-9, 185 pounds as a potential obstacle for him to tap into that power with a wood bat at the pro level.

Burress has heard those concerns about his size throughout his amateur career. For him, succeeding at the highest level has nothing to do with height and weight, and he aims to go out and prove that.

“That’s always been something that’s been talked about for me,” Burress said. “But, at the end of the day, it’s about winning and producing. Those are two things that I’ve always done. Regardless of the height -- it doesn’t matter if it’s Aaron Judge, Jose Altuve or anybody in between -- if you can produce and you can win, that’s what it’s all about. That’s what it’s always been about for me.”

There is no official determination on where Burress will begin his pro career, though he said he expects to head to either Single-A Stockton or High-A Lansing in the coming month.

“I’m ready to play,” Burress said. “I’ve been training and preparing to play between the college season and now, so I feel like I’m ready to go out and get in a game.”