Burnett excited at opportunity to return to the Nationals

Left-hander Sean Burnett has returned to the Nationals looking for a chance to reignite his career. He is certainly antsy to get going again after missing all of last season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, looking to switch back from the red and white of an Angels uniform to that of the Nationals.

Following the Nationals' 2012 playoff run, Burnett appeared in only 16 games in two seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. He continued to have elbow problems that limited his ability to pitch. In June 2014, Burnett underwent Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career.

Meeting with reporters in Viera, Fla., the 33-year-old Burnett says he wasn't worried about having to be one of those pitchers to attempt a comeback after undergoing the procedure a second time. He referenced former Braves pitchers Brandon Beachy and Kris Medlen, who had returned to major league pitching having undergone Tommy John twice.

Burnett said he could have even pitched last season because he was healthy enough in July to take the mound, 13 months after the surgery, but opted to play it safe.

"I put my trust in the doctor, the rehab process," Burnett told reporters. "Everything went well. I haven't had any setbacks. Everything has gone smoothly. I gave it that extra bit of time. I was ready probably late July last year. Sitting down with the doctor, we decided to not push it and let the year play out and get ready for this season.

"I feel like it was the tough decision because I wanted to get back playing. But looking back, it was probably a smart decision, let the body heal and giving it was just a few more extra months."

Burnett first underwent Tommy John surgery when he was a prospect with the Pirates. This time around, he took the recovery process a little bit slower and was more cautious.

"Same exact process except I think the first time I had it I started throwing at four months, this time we started throwing at six (months)," Burnett said. "I was 21 the first time I had it, so I was pushing it trying to get back. This (time) I didn't push it, I listened to my body. Whatever my body told me to do, I did. Like I said, I really hadn't had any setbacks or pain or anything like that."

When Burnett was told he needed to surgery a second time, he decided he still wanted to pitch in the majors again. He knew the only way to do that was have the surgery again.

"I sat down with the doctor," Burnett recalled. "I wasn't going to have the surgery unless I knew I was going to come back. I was coming back no matter what. It's the mentality from when I went under the knife I was going to pitch again. Here I am. It took awhile, but we're back."

Burnett had one of his best seasons as a professional in 2012 as he helped guide the Nationals to their first division title. He appeared in 70 games and finished with an 2.38 ERA in 56 2/3 innings. He struck out 57 batters and walked only 12. Burnett said one main reason he decided to attempt a comeback with the Nationals is that they had shown confidence in him back when they traded for him from the Pirates in 2009. And they weren't afraid to use him in high-leverage situations in the seventh and eighth innings.

"The organization and (general manager Mike Rizzo) put a lot of trust in me by going out and trading for me," Burnett said. "I got my first chance to really be a late-inning, setup type guy. With that confidence in me, I felt like I owed it to them to maybe comeback. I have a lot of respect for them and the organization."

Now in 2016, signed to the Nationals on a minor league deal, Burnett knows he has his work cut out for him in a relieving corps that is completely reworked from the last time he was in D.C.

"I talked to Rizzo last year couple of times when I saw him," Burnett said of his return. "I kept in touch with him. When it came to signing, yes, it was a place (that I considered). I enjoyed it. My family enjoyed it. It was an easy decision for me."

"There's a big turnover," Burnett said. "A lot of the position players are still here. But a lot of the bullpen guys are gone. I'm here to try to make the team and do my best."

Burnett said he sees that the roster has changed a bit, but his focus is all on trying to make the Nationals' 25-man roster that leaves Florida in late March.

"There's always turnover in a bullpen," Burnett said. "It doesn't change my philosophy or my mentality."

Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com contributed to this report.