Chase Burns First Impression With The Reds

Chase Burns just wrapped up his first stint as a big leaguer for the Cincinnati Reds. The second overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft struggled a bit in a 13-game stint. He faced some adversity as he hit the shelf with a right flexor strain and was moved to the bullpen.

It was a bumpy ride for the 22-year-old, but he will play a big part in Cincinnati’s quest for continued success.

Chase Burns First Impression With The Reds

Burns’ Overall Numbers

As previously mentioned, it was not a smooth ride for Burns. After a solid MLB debut on June 24th, when he went five innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out eight against the New York Yankees, Burns faced his first obstacle in the following start.

In just his second career MLB start, Burns was rocked for seven runs (five earned) while recording just one out in the first inning. There were rumblings about him tipping his pitches. By looking at the rest of his outings, it would make sense, as he never allowed more than three earned runs just once afterward (5 ER in 5 2/3 IP vs. LA).

His overall numbers sat at 43 1/3 innings in 13 appearances (8 starts) with a 4.57 ERA.

Burns‘ Under the Hood Numbers

The season numbers were undoubtedly ballooned by his Boston outing, as he would have landed somewhere in the high threes ERA without it.

A 2.65 FIP is indicative of his under-the-hood success, as was his extremely high 35.6 K%, placing him at the top of the league.

His 3.47 xERA and .227 xBA indicated he ran into some tough luck. He also flashed his massive swing and miss potential with a 31.5 Chase% and 31.9 Whiff%.

Burns’ only worry going into 2026 should be preparing for a full season’s worth of workload as a starter and ensuring that he does not tip his pitches again.

Burns’ Role in 2026

While Burns was moved to the bullpen towards the end of the season, it was not a permanent move. He was moved partly because of his workload, which had risen well past his career high back in college, as well as the overall need for more bullpen help as the Reds were making their postseason push.

Burns will look to return to the big league roster as a member of a star-studded rotation, which features All-Stars Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott, reliable arms in Nick Lodolo and Brady Singer, and a plethora of contenders for that fifth spot.

There’s Chase Burns himself, veteran Nick Martinez, fellow top prospect Rhett Lowder, and possibly a new arm the front office brings in, whether via trade or free agency.

One way or another, Burns does have a bit of competition heading into Spring Training, but his first cup of coffee in big league action showed that he is more than capable of performing to his top prospect pedigree for years to come. In a star-studded draft that has already produced big league talent in the form of Nick Kurtz, Jac Caglianone, Christian Moore, Cam Smith, and Trey Yesavage, Chase Burns still stands out as one of the most impressive rookies in the draft.