06/23/25 10:14:00
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06/23 22:13 CDT Prized prospect Chase Burns excited to make MLB debut for Reds
against Yankees
Prized prospect Chase Burns excited to make MLB debut for Reds against Yankees
By JOE REEDY
AP Sports Writer
CINCINNATI (AP) --- Growing up, Chase Burns dreamed of playing for the New York
Yankees.
He's about to make his major league debut against them.
The 22-year-old Burns will take the mound for the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday
night, less than a year after being the second overall pick in the 2024 amateur
draft.
"I wanted to be like Derek Jeter and play shortstop. I'm excited to have a Reds
uniform, though," Burns said Monday before Cincinnati opened a three-game
series against the Yankees.
The right-hander went 7-3 with a 1.77 ERA in 13 starts with Class-A Dayton,
Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville before Reds brass declared him big
league ready. He was elevated to the taxi squad Monday and will be added to the
active roster before Tuesday's game.
"I talked about it a lot. I wanted to move up quick and make an impact, but
when it happens it's surreal. Just the other day it felt like I was in Dayton
and making my first start," Burns said.
Burns will be the fifth first-round selection from last year's draft to reach
the majors, joining Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz, Royals outfielder Jac
Caglianone, Angels second baseman Christian Moore and Astros outfielder Cam
Smith, who was selected by the Cubs before going to Houston in the Kyle Tucker
trade last December. Burns and Kurtz both attended Wake Forest.
Burns' strength is his fastball, which is averaging 97 mph and regularly hits
triple digits. He also has an above-average slider as a secondary pitch and has
improved his changeup.
He led full-season minor league pitchers with a 0.77 WHIP, ranked fifth in ERA,
was sixth with 89 strikeouts and tied for sixth with an opponents' batting
average of .167.
"He's electric on the mound. He throws hard and his off-speed stuff is great,"
Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott said. "He comes in with the right makeup and
mentality. With all of those things combined, he'll be ready."
Making a big league debut creates its own special kind of stress. Doing it
against one of the top lineups in the majors takes that to another level.
The third hitter Burns will likely face is Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who hit
his 28th home run during the first inning Monday night.
Burns, though, is trying to remain level-headed going into Tuesday night.
"I know he's there. Just enjoy the moment," Burns said. "There's going to be
pressure in anything you do in life. That's what my dad instilled in me. And,
of course, being the No. 2 overall pick, you're going to have a lot of
pressure. At the end of the day, you just have to have fun."
According to baseball-reference.com, Burns will be the 58th starting pitcher
since 1961 to make his major league debut against the Yankees. Included on that
list are Luis Tiant, Blake Snell, Jacob deGrom, David Wells and Jake Peavy.
Another person who isn't concerned about Burns' debut coming against the
Yankees is his manager.
"I don't think you give a (darn) about the mystique. If we did that, we
probably made a mistake," Terry Francona said. "We don't make decisions because
of that. That's maybe for social media, not for what we're doing.
"You can't replicate your first game in the major leagues. It might be the most
exciting day in your life, and don't back away from that. But whatever happens
tomorrow is not going to define his career. You know, if he throws seven
shutout innings, everybody is going to put him in the Hall of Fame. If he gives
up four runs in three innings, they will want to send him down. I told him,
just be who you are and let's see if they can hit you."
The Reds (41-38) opened the series with a 6-1 win Monday night and go into
Tuesday having won 11 of 16 to get within two games of the final NL wild-card
spot.
Cincinnati is 12-8 in June, tied for the third-best record in the NL.
Burns' promotion and high-priced infielder Jeimer Candelario being designated
for assignment indicate the Reds think they can make a run at a postseason spot
in Francona's first year as manager.
"The front office and ownership could have stalled out Burns, but he's an
extremely talented player that everyone can see can help us win now. It
reinforces and shows they believe in us as well, which is pretty cool," said
outfielder Gavin Lux, who homered in Monday's win. "Guys are pulling for each
other and we're starting to gain some momentum."
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