The Reds are calling up their top pitching prospect for his major league debut Tuesday against the Yankees.
Chase Burns, the No. 2 overall pick from last year’s draft, will make his first MLB start after just two outings at Triple-A Louisville. The Athletic reports the 22-year-old right-hander gets thrown right into the fire against a loaded New York lineup.
Talk about a quick rise through the system.
Burns only reached Triple-A this month, but he’s been dominant in his brief time there. Across two starts, he’s thrown 12.1 innings with 14 strikeouts and just three runs allowed. That’s the kind of performance that gets you fast-tracked to the big leagues.
The Reds needed rotation help after placing Wade Miley on the injured list, and Burns represents their best internal option. He’s currently ranked as the No. 11 prospect in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline.
What makes this callup particularly interesting is Burns’s college journey. He started at Tennessee before transferring to Wake Forest, where he became a superstar and caught Cincinnati’s attention early in the draft.
The Yankees present quite the welcome to the majors test. Their lineup can feature four MVPs – Aaron Judge, Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton. Judge has been the best hitter on the planet this season, so Burns will get a measuring stick right away.
But that’s probably perfect for someone with Burns’s makeup. You don’t get drafted second overall without the confidence to handle big moments.
Whether he ever goes back to the minors likely depends on how he handles this opportunity. The Reds aren’t exactly deep in proven starting pitching, so there’s a clear path to sticking around if he can show he belongs.
Born in Naples, Italy, Burns has moved quickly through every level of baseball. Now he gets his shot at the highest one.
Tuesday should be appointment viewing for Reds fans who’ve been waiting for the next wave of talent to arrive.
