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New York Times
24-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Chase Burns' major-league debut should bring Reds fans to their feet
CINCINNATI — Since the Cincinnati Reds took Chase Burns with the second pick in last year's draft, he's given the same answer for who he was looking forward to facing in the big leagues: Aaron Judge. Burns, 22, won't have to wait long, likely facing Judge in his first inning in the big leagues. Burns will make his major-league debut Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park against the New York Yankees, the team he imagined himself playing shortstop for as a kid. Advertisement Critics may question whether Burns is ready after just 13 minor-league starts. 'I guess we'll find out,' he said Monday. The Reds are counting on the answer being yes. Cincinnati needed a starter after left-hander Wade Miley went on the injured list Friday, and it wasn't just that Burns could be available. It's that through those first 13 starts, he showed exactly why the Reds drafted him in what some saw as a surprise. Most expected the Reds to take Oregon State's Travis Bazzana or Georgia's Charlie Condon, whomever the Cleveland Guardians didn't take. If there was a wild card, it was maybe Wake Forest first baseman Nick Kurtz or Florida two-way player Jac Caglianone. Instead, the Reds went with Burns. Taking it all in. — Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 23, 2025 Burns has drawn national attention since hitting 100 mph on the radar gun before his senior year of high school. He started at the University of Tennessee, going 8-2 as a freshman. As a sophomore, he split his time between the rotation and the bullpen before transferring to Wake Forest for his junior year. 'Coming into the draft last year, if you're going to ding Chase on something, people liked to talk about command and control,' said Joe Katuska, the Reds' director of amateur scouting. 'The more we dug into this stuff, his actual zone percentage and everything related to throwing strikes was also top of the scale. It wasn't just some guy chucking it up there outside the zone against inferior hitters and getting a lot of outs on chases. He was a much more complete pitcher.' Like many, Reds scout Eddie Lehr heard of Burns when he came out of Beech High in Henderson, Tennessee, and saw him on TV with the Volunteers. Lehr, who had previously scouted the mid-Atlantic for the Reds, was in his first year as the team's scouting supervisor and analyst in the Carolinas. In 2023, Lehr watched Rhett Lowder dominate for Wake Forest at the ACC Tournament, impressed with how Lowder commanded the game. With Lowder on the mound, the Demon Deacons were not going to lose. The Reds took Lowder with the seventh pick that year, and he was in the big leagues the next year. Advertisement In the fall of 2023, Lehr checked in on Wake Forest again. Burns threw one inning, and Lehr moved on to his other stops at South Carolina, North Carolina, Clemson and the like. The next time Lehr saw Burns, it was in his first start for Wake Forest. On a 43-degree day in Winston-Salem with 13 mph winds, Burns struck out 10 Illinois batters in six shutout innings, allowing three hits with one walk. 'He comes out in the first inning and he's (reaching) 98 to 101 mph, throwing 92 mph sliders,' Lehr recalled. 'You knew he had that in him, but until you see it live for the first time — it kind of smacked you in the face a little bit. This is insane stuff in frigid temperatures on opening weekend, and he held it throughout. It wasn't like after the first inning he was pitching at 95. He sat (around) 97, 98 for six innings.' Burns cruised through early play until the end of March, when North Carolina handed him his first loss, putting up six runs. In his next start, Virginia Tech scored five, but he pitched seven innings and picked up the win. That's when he changed, Lehr said. Instead of relying only on his fastball and slider, he started mixing in his curveball and the occasional changeup. Lehr was there for Burns' last home start at Wake Forest against Clemson. Burns went seven innings, allowed a run on two hits and a walk, striking out 16. 'I just put the pen down and just watched,' Lehr said. 'I started getting the butterflies, like I was watching something special.' Part of the show is that Burns pitches with such emotion. His delivery is high effort, a whirlwind of movement followed by the storm of his four-pitch mix. Though there's fire and emotion on the mound, at no time does he seem out of control. For amateur scouts, the on-field performance is just part of the job. The best scouts get to know the players they're signing. But it doesn't stop there. They get to know their parents, siblings, high school coaches, college coaches. They chase down just about anyone who can give insight into the player, especially when considering whether to give that player a $9.25 million signing bonus. Advertisement That loud, demonstrative kid on the mound was quiet and respectful off of it. The son of a pair of Navy veterans, Burns was disciplined, polite and bright. But when it came to competition, Burns wanted to win at everything — pickup basketball, video games and especially baseball. Lehr remembers Wake Forest pitching coach Corey Muscara telling him, 'If you're around (Burns) Saturday morning through Thursday night, he's a normal dude, but when he shows up to the ballpark on Friday for his start against Clemson, Florida State or whoever, he's just a different dude.' Scouts talk about players, their tools and pitches on the 20-80 scale, with 20 being low and 80 the very top. Even with a fastball that hits triple digits, Lehr put a 70 on Burns' fastball and slider. 'In our meeting, I said he was an 80 competitor,' Lehr said. 'I just thought that was a big separator.' In his short time in pro ball, he's shown both that competitive side as well as his ability and willingness to make adjustments quickly. His changeup has gone from a pitch he'd throw to show batters something different to a real weapon, especially against left-handed batters. And then there's the stuff. That's what the Reds' players, coaches and staff saw this spring. 'It's electric,' said Reds catcher Jose Trevino, who caught Gerrit Cole with the Yankees. 'It's real. 'He can locate with the best of them. He can throw hard with the best of them. The shapes on his pitches are good. His attitude, his mindset. He's prepared. He's ready.' When Miley, who has 312 big-league starts, arrived at camp this spring, one of the first bullpens he saw belonged to Burns. 'Why am I still here?' Miley remembered telling himself. 'This is incredible.' Burns pitched in a Cactus League game the day the Reds planned to tell him they were sending him to minor-league camp. When manager Terry Francona returned to the Reds' complex from Goodyear Ballpark, he saw Nick Krall, the team's president of baseball operations, and general manager Brad Meador. Advertisement 'Are we telling him he made it?' Francona remembered asking them jokingly. Like Lowder the year before, Burns didn't look like a pitcher with zero pro experience. He was a big leaguer that day, and he'll officially be a big leaguer Tuesday. That's why Monday, when Francona was asked if he was worried about Burns making his debut against the Yankees and their 'mystique,' he looked caught off guard. 'I don't care about that,' Francona said. 'I don't think he gives a s— about the mystique. F—, if that's the case, we probably made a mistake. I don't think we did.' The Reds' confidence in Burns goes back to that first scouting report. 'I don't know how (Tuesday) will go, nobody does,' Lehr said. 'But I guarantee you that Chase Burns is not going to be scared when he steps on the mound.'
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cardinals Host Reds Looking to Keep Pace in NL Central, Wild Card Race
Cardinals Host Reds Looking to Keep Pace in NL Central, Wild Card Race originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Fresh off a sweep of the Chicago White Sox, the St. Louis Cardinals return to Busch Stadium to take on the Cincinnati Reds for a three-game set beginning Friday. Advertisement The Cardinals (40-35) currently sit tied for second in the NL Central, five and a half games back of the division leading Chicago Cubs. The Reds (39-36) are just one game back of the Cardinals in fourth. After going 19-8 in May, the Cardinals have fallen back to earth this month and are 7-10. Despite their struggles, St. Louis remains just a half game out of a wild card spot. St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (53) reacts as he walks off the fieldJeff Curry-Imagn Images Friday, June 20, 6:15 p.m. CT How to watch/listen: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, Matrix Midwest / KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM, WIJR AM 880 (En Espanol) Probable starters: Reds: Brady Singer (7-4, 4.34 ERA) Cardinals: Andre Pallante (4-3, 4.83 ERA) Advertisement Saturday, June 21, 1:15 p.m. CT How to watch/listen: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest / KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM, WIJR AM 880 (En Espanol) Probable starters: Reds: Wade Miley (1-0, 6.75 ERA) Cardinals: Sonny Gray (7-2, 3.84 ERA) Sunday, June 22, 1:15 p.m. CT How to watch/listen: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest / KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM, WIJR AM 880 (En Espanol) Probable starters: Reds: Andrew Abbott (6-1, 1.84 ERA) Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (4-4, 4.35 ERA) What to watch for: 1. Can Cardinals starters keep the Reds hitters at bay? The Reds are 32-4 this season in games in which they've out-hit their opponents. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz is pacing the way for Cincinnati, slashing .263/.345/.481 with a team-leading 16 home runs and 50 RBIs. Cardinals starters Pallante, Gray and Mikolas will need limit De La Cruz and the Reds hitters if they want to take this pivotal three-game series. Advertisement 2. Which Andre Pallante shows up? It's been a rough last three outings for Andre Pallante. He's allowed 18 hits and 13 runs over his last 14 and two-thirds innings. In his last start against Milwaukee on June 14, Pallante, who has the highest ERA (4.83) among Cardinals starters, failed to complete five innings for the fifth time this season. Pallante will also need to limit the long ball. He's allowed 11 home runs this season, only three of which, however, have come at Busch Stadium. 3. Who will leadoff for the Redbirds? Amid Lars Nootbaar's struggles at the plate, Oli Marmol continues to experiment with Shortstop Masyn Winn and second baseman Brendan Donovan in the lead off spot. Winn led off the front-end of Thursday's doubleheader, while Donovan led off game two. Despite going 0-for-5 yesterday in the second game, Donovan is batting .429 this season when hitting first. Winn just .111. Advantage Donovan. Advertisement Related: Dodgers Named 'Dream Landing Spot' For Cardinals' Arenado Related: Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt Talks Development, More in Exclusive Interview This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cincinnati Reds to Promote Chase Burns, Former No. 2 Draft Pick
Cincinnati Reds to Promote Chase Burns, Former No. 2 Draft Pick originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Welcome to the majors, rook. Your first assignment? The New York Yankees. Chase Burns, the No. 2 overall pick in in the 2024 MLB Draft, will be called up later this week by the Cincinnati Reds to make his big-league debut. Burns will be penciled in to make his big-league debut against the Bronx Bombers. Advertisement Burns is the No. 12 prospect in baseball, according to ESPN's Top 50 rankings. He is 7-3 with a 1.77 ERA and 89 strikeouts over 66 innings since being drafted out of Wake Forest. He pitched for Tennessee for a bulk of his collegiate career before transfering. "We're trying to give ourselves every chance to win and be in this, and right now, we feel like Chase gives us the best chance, and it's time to go," Reds general manager Brad Meador told the Cincinnati Enquirer. Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Reds entered Sunday's games with a 39-38 record, in fourth-place in the National League Central, 7 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs. But Cincinnati is just three games behind the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers for the final wild-card spot in the NL. Advertisement Burns will likely take the rotation spot of Wade Miley, who was placed on the injured list Friday with a flexor strain. The spot Tuesday originally belonged to Nick Martinez, but the Reds used Martinez in a relief role Saturday. It's possible Cincinnati keeps Martinez, who carries a 7.52 ERA in June, in a relief role, as well. "Trying to figure out when the time is right is always the toughest part. You never know for sure when a guy's ready," Meador told the Enquirer. "But he's (Burns) obviously pitched as well as you could possibly hope in the first year of professional baseball, and he seems to be getting stronger. Even when a guy's ready, you never know, but he's passed every test. I don't think he's going to be overwhelmed by the situation, for sure." Related: Max Scherzer Sends Uncertain Message After Major Blue Jays News Related: Ex-Phillies Fan Favorite Gets Update on Brewers Future Amid Trade Rumors This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Associated Press
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Reds set to call up top pitching prospect Chase Burns from minors to start against Yanks
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds are preparing to call up top pitching prospect Chase Burns to start during their series against the New York Yankees this week. Burns, a 22-year-old right-hander, has rapidly moved through the minor leagues after Cincinnati drafted him with the No. 2 pick last year from Wake Forest. Burns is 7-3 with a 1.77 ERA in 13 starts at three minor-league levels this year, including two with Triple-A Louisville. 'It's kind of hard to come up with a reason why we shouldn't,' Reds manager Terry Francona said Sunday. 'They tried to throw a lot at him. He just kind of handled everything. The Reds' rotation is short-handed after starters Hunter Greene and Wade Miley went on the injured list earlier this month. Nick Lodolo is scheduled to start Monday's series opener against New York, and the 6-foot-3 Burns is in line to make his debut Tuesday. 'It's another game, but it is a major league team, He's going to have a lot of firsts, but he's handled everything so far,' said Francona, whose team entered Sunday with a 39-38 record and in fourth place in the NL Central. 'And I think there's an excitement, and, you know, I think the front office, they're trying to help us win, and I think we appreciate that.' Cincinnati also made a series of roster moves before Sunday's game at St. Louis, recalling right-hander Yosver Zulueta from Triple-A Louisville and bringing back third baseman Jeimer Candelario (lumbar spine strain) from a three-week rehab assignment. Right-hander Chase Petty was optioned to Louisville, and second baseman Garrett Hampson was designated for assignment. The Cardinals recalled right-hander Gordon Graceffo from Triple-A Memphis and optioned right-hander Andre Granillo to Memphis. ___ AP baseball:
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Reds set to call up top pitching prospect Chase Burns from minors to start against Yanks
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds are preparing to call up top pitching prospect Chase Burns to start during their series against the New York Yankees this week. Burns, a 22-year-old right-hander, has rapidly moved through the minor leagues after Cincinnati drafted him with the No. 2 pick last year from Wake Forest. Burns is 7-3 with a 1.77 ERA in 13 starts at three minor-league levels this year, including two with Triple-A Louisville. Advertisement 'It's kind of hard to come up with a reason why we shouldn't,' Reds manager Terry Francona said Sunday. 'They tried to throw a lot at him. He just kind of handled everything. The Reds' rotation is short-handed after starters Hunter Greene and Wade Miley went on the injured list earlier this month. Nick Lodolo is scheduled to start Monday's series opener against New York, and the 6-foot-3 Burns is in line to make his debut Tuesday. 'It's another game, but it is a major league team, He's going to have a lot of firsts, but he's handled everything so far,' said Francona, whose team entered Sunday with a 39-38 record and in fourth place in the NL Central. Advertisement 'And I think there's an excitement, and, you know, I think the front office, they're trying to help us win, and I think we appreciate that.' Cincinnati also made a series of roster moves before Sunday's game at St. Louis, recalling right-hander Yosver Zulueta from Triple-A Louisville and bringing back third baseman Jeimer Candelario (lumbar spine strain) from a three-week rehab assignment. Right-hander Chase Petty was optioned to Louisville, and second baseman Garrett Hampson was designated for assignment. The Cardinals recalled right-hander Gordon Graceffo from Triple-A Memphis and optioned right-hander Andre Granillo to Memphis. ___ AP baseball:
