PHOENIX — On a steamy night in June, Corbin Burnes threw seven innings against the Texas Rangers at Baltimore’s Camden Yards. After an 11-2 win, the Baltimore Orioles ace went to the airport for an overnight trip to Phoenix, where his wife, Brooke, was scheduled to deliver twins the next morning.
At 1 a.m., Burnes phoned agent Scott Boras. The private plane had been forced to land in Colorado Springs because of a mechanical issue. Burnes asked Boras for options. After going through multiple possibilities, Burnes boarded a 5:30 a.m. flight out of Denver and made it to Phoenix just in time to see daughters Charlotte and Harper brought into the world.
Boras relayed this story Wednesday afternoon, not long after the Arizona Diamondbacks had introduced Burnes during a news conference at Chase Field. On Dec. 30, the Diamondbacks signed Burnes to a six-year, $210 million contract, the richest in franchise history, a move that shocked baseball.
Standing outside the media room, Boras wouldn’t say that the rushed overnight flight (and near miss of the twins’ arrival) was the exact reason Burnes and his family chose the Diamondbacks over better offers. But he made clear family was the main factor in the decision. Boras said Burnes flew back to Phoenix six to eight times during his…
