Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher A.J. Burnett, who has played professional baseball for 17 years, will make his first appearance in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in colorful fashion.
The veteran player, who has said this season will be his last, is expected to wear custom-designed cleats during the game that pay tribute to his favorite superhero: Batman.
The 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game takes place in Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 14.
The cleats, designed by sporting-goods firm 3N2, feature a melded outsole and midsole in metallic yellow. In addition, the for-the-field spikes tell Burnett’s story with printing details such as his initials and uniform number paired to form a Batman silhouette. The shoes also incorporate the Pittsburgh skyline and a reference to one of the pitcher’s personal tattoos.
“Self-expression is important to me,” Burnett said in a statement. “When I’m on the mound, I want there to be no mistaking who I am and what I’m out there to do. 3N2 has given me the freedom to fuse my personality with my game.”
Burnett has worked with 3N2, an Orlando, Fla.-based company, for the past four years.
Burnett was drafted in 1995 by the New York Mets. He has since gone on to pitch for four major league teams.
