Cincinnati Reds Shining in Spring Training: Pitchers Edition

Reds Pitchers Who are Shining in Spring Training

Chase Burns – SP

After getting a cup of coffee in the big leagues in 2025, Chase Burns will be aiming to take a rotation spot out of spring training. Due to his top prospect status and pedigree, the second overall pick from 2024 is all but guaranteed to slot in as the fifth starter to begin the season, but his performance in spring still matters due to inexperience.

So far, he has made two starts, totaling 4 1/3 innings, allowing just one run. Results aren’t and shouldn’t be the main focus of spring training, but in this case, Burns’ results and process have both stood out.

His slider has been sharp, helping his strikeout numbers. Although his five walks are a bit much, there is plenty of time left to hone in on command and get comfortable back on the mound.

The main objective for Burns this offseason was not to overcomplicate things. Despite his ERA being over four in 2025 for the Reds, a couple of blowup starts did the most damage to his overall stats. His second career start was an ugly one in Boston, where he was more than likely tipping pitches that day.

The below-average results weren’t because of his stuff or a lack thereof, but rather just the average experience of a young arm’s first taste of the big leagues. It’s extremely promising to see that Burns didn’t make any drastic, reactionary changes to his approach/delivery.

Tejay Antone – RP/SP

The 32-year-old Tejay Antone is in the hunt for one of the final roster spots in the bullpen. He first made his mark in a Reds uniform in 2020, where he played a big part in the team reaching the expanded postseason as a rookie.

Countless injuries (including two Tommy John surgeries) later, Antone is back, trying to make the club out of spring to complete his comeback. So far in spring training, Antone has tossed three scoreless innings.

Health is the number one focus for Antone at this point, as one more major arm injury likely takes his cleats off. However, his velocity and stuff are still sharp, and he can be a solid middle reliever in 2026 for Cincinnati.

In the event of the starting rotation being decimated with injuries, Antone can even step up and make a few spot starts, even if he only lasts two to three innings.

Sam Moll – RP

Sam Moll’s 2025 season was one to forget, as he got lit up in the limited action he was a part of. In 18 1/3 innings, he had a 6.38 ERA and was essentially unplayable. This was especially unfortunate for the Reds’ bullpen, which had just him and Brent Suter as the only left-handers.

So far this spring, though, Moll has recorded four scoreless innings. Stats for relievers are a bit difficult to judge due to the inherent volatility of the position, and stats in spring training mean even less. However, it is a good sign to see Moll being effective in the early going.

There is a major reason for belief in Moll, though, as he actually had a good season (one can argue) despite the 6.38 ERA. It may sound insane, but his xERA was just 3.79. In fact, he did some things extremely well, which all but reinforces the possibility of a bounce-back season.

.205 xBA

33.1 Whiff%

27.2 K%