Reds' top prospect should have franchise feeling optimistic after historic debut

Burns retired leadoff hitter Trent Grisham and struck out No. 2 hitter Ben Rice on a 99-mph fastball before getting Judge to swing and miss at a third-strike slider.

He was not finished, striking out former MVPs Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt in the second inning. According to OptaStats, Burns is the only pitcher in the last 50 years to strike out the first five batters that he faced in his MLB debut.

Yankees center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. picked up the first hit of the game off Burns. In the next at-bat, Burns struck out shortstop Anthony Volpe for his sixth strikeout in the first two innings.

Per OptaStats, Burns joins Carl Hubbell from 1934 as the only two pitchers to strike out six, allow zero runs and strike out three former MVPs over the first two innings of any start.

Burns eventually cooled off as the Yankees got to him their second time through the lineup in the fourth inning. Rice led off the fourth with a homer before Volpe recorded a two-run triple moments later to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.

Despite falling behind, the Reds rallied behind a strong performance from the bullpen, which went six innings and only allowed one hit the rest of the way in the team's extra-inning, walk-off win.

Burns finished his debut with five innings pitched, six hits, three earned runs, zero walks, eight strikeouts and 81 pitches. Of those 81 pitches, 53 were for strikes. He averaged an incredible 98.1 mph with 48 fastballs, topping out at 100.1 mph in the first inning.

He kept the Yankees guessing with 24 sliders, eight changeups and one curveball. Burns' balanced arsenal of pitches and zero walks allowed show how in command he was in his debut. The Yankees finally got to him in the fourth, but he showcased why the Reds drafted him so high.

The Reds (42-38) have won 12 of their last 17 games and enter Wednesday 4.5 games back of the Chicago Cubs for first place in the NL Central. 

If the runs keep coming in and the bullpen can perform like it did on Tuesday night, this Reds team has the potential to keep the momentum going.

With one impressive start under his belt, the addition of Burns should only make Cincinnati more complete and put it in position to be a legitimate contender in the division.