With Kansas City closer Mike MacDougal out for roughly a month with a muscle strain in his throwing arm, Royals manager Buddy Bell said Burgos will serve as the team's closer. Burgos saved two games in 2005, when he was 3-5 with a 3.98 ERA in 59 relief appearances.
(Updated 3/20/2006)

Analysis: The 21-year-old Burgos can get a strikeout, but he walks far too many batters to be very effective in the ninth-inning role.