ESPN makes strong statement about Wake Forest RHP Chase Burns that will have Vols fans wishing he was still in Knoxville

ESPN MLB insider Kiley McDaniel made a comment about Wake Forest RHP Chase Burns this week that will have Tennessee Vols fans wishing he never left Knoxville. 

Burns, who transferred from Tennessee to Wake Forest after the 2023 season, is projected by McDaniel as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. 

McDaniel noted this week that some scouting directors believe that Burns is better than former LSU Tigers RHP Paul Skenes was as a draft prospect. 

"It may not be the consensus view, but there are scouting directors who think Burns is better than Paul Skenes was as a draft prospect; you can't deny their pitch grades and arsenals are pretty similar," wrote McDaniel. 

Skenes was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the No. 1 overall pick in last summer's MLB Draft. 

The former LSU standout made his MLB debut for the Pirates earlier this season. In four starts, Skenes has a 2.45 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched. 

Skenes, if he stays healthy and continues to perform at a high level, has Hall of Fame talent. 

It may seem a bit extreme to compare Burns, who was moved from Tennessee's starting rotation to the bullpen last season, to Skenes, but the numbers suggest that two pitchers are very similar. 

Last season at LSU, Skenes had a 1.69 ERA with 209 strikeouts in 19 starts (122.2 innings). 

So far at Wake Forest in 2024, Burns has a 2.46 ERA with 184 strikeouts in 15 starts (95 innings). 

Burns is averaging 1.93 strikeouts per inning this season. Skenes averaged 1.71 strikeouts per inning last season. 

Additionally, Burns has failed to record double-digit strikeouts in just three games this season. Skenes failed to record double-digit strikeouts in five games last season. 

"He's the best college pitcher I've seen," said Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter of Burns recently (via MLB.com). "And that's no knock on Paul Skenes, who obviously shut us out for eight innings last year (in the College World Series) and was awesome, or Matt Harvey from North Carolina...Chase Burns is the best I've seen."