Reds Tap the Brakes On Chase Burns After Range of Motion Concern

The Reds didn’t waste time slowing Chase Burns down this week, and the decision had nothing to do with results or competition. It was about protecting one of the most electric young arms in their system after a range‑of‑motion issue surfaced in his throwing arm. Manager Terry Francona said the club wanted to “nip this in the bud,” and Cincinnati treated Friday’s abbreviated spring outing as a precaution, not a setback.

Burns threw only 24 pitches, but the Reds viewed the lighter workload as the right call. He had experienced limited arm mobility earlier in the week, and while he was still able to take the mound, the club didn’t want to push him. Francona said the medical staff is already building a routine to help him avoid the issue between starts.

For a team already missing Hunter Greene after elbow surgery, the Reds can’t afford to gamble with Burns, who entered camp as the favorite for the final rotation spot. His stuff is too valuable, and his ceiling is too high, to risk anything in March.

Why the Reds Are Prioritizing Burns’ Health

The Reds know exactly what they have in Burns. He entered last season as the consensus top prospect in the organization and wasted no time showing why. He struck out eight Yankees in his June debut, and while the Red Sox roughed him up in his second outing, the rest of his rookie run looked like the real thing.

Across 13 appearances, Burns posted a massive 35.6% strikeout rate over 43.1 innings. His underlying metrics painted the picture of a pitcher far better than his 4.57 ERA suggested. He even retired five straight Dodgers in his lone postseason appearance, showing the kind of poise teams don’t usually see from a rookie.

But the Reds have also seen how quickly things can change. Burns missed a month last August with a flexor strain, and when he returned, the club capped his workload. He never threw more than 36 pitches down the stretch and worked exclusively in relief. That history makes this spring’s caution feel less like overreaction and more like smart roster management.

How the Rotation Battle Shifts With Burns Slowed

Cincinnati entered camp with one rotation spot up for grabs. Burns had the inside track, but Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson were right behind him. Chase Petty and Julian Aguiar were long shots and have already been reassigned to minor league camp.

Now the picture shifts. Two of Burns, Lowder, and Williamson will likely open the season in the rotation alongside Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Brady Singer.

Williamson is coming off his own long recovery after missing all of 2025 due to UCL reconstruction. Before the injury, he had emerged as a steady presence in 2023, making 23 starts and leaning heavily on a cutter that opponents hit just .179 against in 2024. His health remains a variable, but his pitch mix gives him a real shot.

Lowder, like Burns, carries a top‑tier prospect pedigree. He dominated in his first taste of the majors with a 1.17 ERA over six starts in 2024, even if his 4.38 xERA hinted at some good fortune. A forearm strain derailed his 2025 season, but he’s been piling up strikeouts again—26.5% in rehab outings last year and 29.7% so far this spring.

What Burns’ Slowdown Means For Opening Day

The Reds aren’t signaling an alarm, but they’re also not pretending this is nothing. A range‑of‑motion issue is the kind of early‑spring red flag teams take seriously, especially with a pitcher who has already dealt with arm trouble. The fact that Burns still pitched Friday suggests the concern is mild, but the club’s cautious approach hints at a deliberate plan to manage his early‑season workload.