Writing at FirstInning.com, Matt Swain reports on lefthanded-hitting outfielder Kyler Burke, acquired back in ‘07 by the Cubs from San Diego in exchange for Carlos Zambrano punching bag, Michael Barrett.

Of the 6-3, 205-pound Burke, currently boasting an 857 OPS for Class-A Peoria, Swain says:

…this breakout has been a long time coming, as Burke hasn’t enjoyed this kind of sustained success since high school. The puzzling part is trying to figure out what has changed. The ’06 supplemental first rounder hasn’t improved his plate discipline, line drive rates, or anything really. But his 27 doubles easily lead the league and make it hard for me to believe he’s just been lucky. One possibility is that hitting in front of Josh Vitters is affording him more fastballs to hit, and he is taking advantage. Burke has a sweet swing from the left side of the plate and a body that was made to play baseball. Right now he lives in the outfield gaps, and probably needs to alter his swing a bit to project for more power, but he has the bat speed to be a home run threat down the road.