Chase Burns reached his 100th career strikeout Tuesday night, becoming the fastest pitcher in Cincinnati franchise history to hit that milestone.
The Reds’ flamethrowing right-hander got there in just 72.1 innings pitched. And he did it the way you’d expect from a guy named Burns – with a 100 MPH fastball.
That’s just what he does.
Living Up to the Hype
When Cincinnati took Burns No. 2 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, the upside was obvious. The organization shut him down for the rest of his draft year to protect his arm, but that didn’t stop him from reaching the majors midway through 2025.
Burns flashed impressive stuff last season but also got roughed up at times. This year, he’s been much sharper and avoided the big innings. His 2.65 ERA shows the difference.
The way I see it, Burns represents exactly what the Reds need right now. They’ve got a young arm with elite velocity who’s already making franchise history. If he can maintain this level of performance, Cincinnati’s rotation looks that much more dangerous.
Managing the Risk
There’ll always be concerns about injury risk with an arm like Burns’. That’s just part of having a power pitcher who can touch triple digits.
But the Reds seem to be handling him carefully while still letting him develop. He’s got the physical tools that can’t be taught, and so far, he’s putting together a historic start to his Cincinnati career.
All things considered, Burns is tracking exactly where the Reds hoped when they made him their top pick. The strikeout record is just the beginning.
