Burford Only Makes Noise With His Bat

It’s warmer than usual on this, a rare off-day, but Kevin Burford doesn’t fuss about it as he plunks his 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame into an easy chair in a steamy office next to the baseball field at Fountain Valley High.

The Barons’ quiet cannon isn’t one to complain. In fact Burford, who needs two home runs to set a school record of 10 for a season, doesn’t say much unless it’s really important.

“I let my bat do the talking,” he said quietly.

Good hit, no talk. That has been his story all season.

Tuesday, for example, in a 6-4 victory over Huntington Beach, the left-hander doubled, homered and drove in four runs--the third time he has driven in four or more runs in a game this season.

He has eight home runs, one of the top totals in the county, and his 33 runs batted in is among the county leaders. His batting average has been around .400 all season and he has scored 27 runs.

Burford is expected to be a big factor when the two-time defending Southern Section Division I champion Barons begin postseason play next week. Fountain Valley hosts Huntington Beach this afternoon in its Sunset League finale. The Barons wrapped up their fourth consecutive league title Tuesday.

Everything about Burford seems quiet. Even those statistics. Burford’s run-producing totals should be magnified, coaches say, because he has received a school-record 30 walks. He has a good eye, according to Baron hitting coach Joe Aversa. But more than that, even in the hard-throwing Sunset League, pitchers want nothing to do with Burford.

“He’s been pitched around quite a lot,” Aversa said.

Burford, dressed in oversized shorts and T-shirt, wished he could pitch around the questions being tossed at him in the baseball office. About half a dozen men, most of them coaches, wander in and out of the office and chuckle at Burford’s one-word responses. They step up to the plate for him when he needs it.

He’s a hitting sensation, one who might go as high as the third round in Major League Baseball’s June draft, according to Baron Coach Ron LaRuffa.

It’s not uncommon for a couple dozen pro scouts to show up at each of Fountain Valley’s games. They come to watch practices and intrasquad games. They study Burford’s quick reflexes and strong wrists. They show up to see him pound ball after ball to all fields in batting practice.

“I think he has the best swing in Orange County,” one scout said. “If you throw it over the middle of the plate or inside, he can really hurt you.”

Is Burford overwhelmed by all that attention? “Sometimes nervous,” he says.

Burford often takes batting practice with a wooden bat like the pros use, rather than an aluminum model popular in high school. He has played in several off-season leagues where only wooden bats are used and he held his own at the plate.

“He is a quality left-handed hitter,” La Ruffa said. “He started on the varsity as a sophomore and continued to get better. Last year he hit much better, and this year the numbers he has posted are off the board.”

Said Aversa: “He’s a student of the game. He knows what it takes. He’s very coachable. He listens to ideas.”

Yes, Burford listens. He is a quiet observer too.

“I watch the pros hit a lot [on television],” he said.

Actually, Burford can be outspoken in his own way, his coaches say.

“He’s been a tremendous leader for us,” La Ruffa said. “He’s taken the younger kids aside and talked to them. Since he’s been there, because he came up to the varsity as a sophomore, he knows what they are thinking. He’s been a big asset to the team.”

Burford nods.

His throwing arm and base-running need work, he admits. Scouts have told him those things may be liabilities, that he may be a one-dimensional player. In youth leagues he was a pitcher, but he injured his arm. He switched to first base, the natural spot for a big left-hander. At Fountain Valley he has been in center field. But if he goes high enough in the draft, his coaches feel, he’ll probably be moved back to first base. He’ll be a bigger prize for an American League team, where he could be used as a designated hitter.

“I’ve been involved in baseball for 26 years,” LaRuffa said. “We don’t encourage everyone to sign right out of high school, but Kevin is ready. He’s held his own in these off-season leagues. Actually, he’s a little bored being here in high school right now. He’ll definitely step up his game when he gets out of here.”

Burford likes those words. He smiles, but says nothing. He is cordial, but quiet. He is asked if he has anything left to say that hasn’t been said.

He shakes his head no. Another smile crosses his face. Burford will let his bat do the talking.