John David Burkett (born November 17, 1964) is an American former professional [[baseball]] pitcher who played for five different [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) teams during his 12-year career from 1987 to 1999. Known for his devastating curveball, Burkett was a two-time MLB All-Star.
Burkett was drafted by the [[San Francisco Giants]] in the sixth round of the 1983 MLB draft. He made his major league debut with the Giants in 1987 and quickly established himself as a reliable starter. His most successful tenure with the Giants included his 1993 season, where he led the [[National League]] in wins with a 22–7 record and was named an All-Star. That year, he finished fourth in the [[Cy Young Award]] voting.
Following his time with the Giants, Burkett pitched for the [[Florida Marlins]] (1995–1996), where he earned his second All-Star selection in 1996. He then played for the [[Texas Rangers]] (1997–1998), the [[Atlanta Braves]] (1999), and finished his career with a brief stint with the [[Boston Red Sox]] in 1999. Over his career, Burkett compiled a record of 167 wins and 136 losses, with a 4.31 [[earned run average]] (ERA) and 1,766 [[strikeout]]s in 2,529.2 innings pitched.
After retiring from baseball, Burkett pursued a career in professional bowling, a sport he had enjoyed as a hobby throughout his baseball career. He competed on the [[PBA Tour]], demonstrating his multi-sport athletic talent.