Chase Burns made his first Double-A start in the seven-inning first game of a doubleheader.
Burns pitched the first four innings, allowing one run on five hits. He walked one and struck out five.
The Reds’ number one pick in the 2024 draft out of Wake Forest University, also pitched for the University of Tennessee before transferring.
Burns did not pitch in the minor leagues after he was drafted in June. He pitched one inning in the Cactus League for the Reds in Goodyear, Arizona. He walked one and struck out the next three batters.
“It’s always cool,” Francona said after the outing. “For us it’s kinda, it’s coming into the middle of spring training. Guys are getting a little heavy legs and this kid comes out. His heart is probably racing. He threw the ball very, very well. I didn’t have any words of advice for him. I didn’t want to scare him.”
Even in his one inning with a runner on base, he showed he already knows how to control the running game, a nuance that young pitchers need to master before they come to the big leagues. Burns didn’t need to throw over to first base. He just varied the time he held the ball before the pitch.
“You know what sometimes with kids that are coming out of some of these college programs they’re getting taught how to do those things. Like Tanner Bibee in Cleveland, part of the reason he got so successful so quick is because he threw strikes and controlled the running game. You had to beat him. This kid (Burns) has exceptional stuff.”
In Chattanooga on Saturday, Burns walked the first batter he faced, Cody Milligan. Burns picked Millagan off first. Burns gave up a single and an RBI double. The Lookouts had a strikeout double play as catcher Mike Trautwein threw out a runner trying to steal second.
Burns retired the last five batters he faced. He ended with a no-decision in an 8-2 win.
Chase Burns made his first Double-A start in the seven-inning first game of a doubleheader.
Burns pitched the first four innings, allowing one run on five hits. He walked one and struck out five.
The Reds’ number one pick in the 2024 draft out of Wake Forest University, also pitched for the University of Tennessee before transferring.
Burns did not pitch in the minor leagues after he was drafted in June. He pitched one inning in the Cactus League for the Reds in Goodyear, Arizona. He walked one and struck out the next three batters.
“It’s always cool,” Francona said after the outing. “For us it’s kinda, it’s coming into the middle of spring training. Guys are getting a little heavy legs and this kid comes out. His heart is probably racing. He threw the ball very, very well. I didn’t have any words of advice for him. I didn’t want to scare him.”
Even in his one inning with a runner on base, he showed he already knows how to control the running game, a nuance that young pitchers need to master before they come to the big leagues. Burns didn’t need to throw over to first base. He just varied the time he held the ball before the pitch.
“You know what sometimes with kids that are coming out of some of these college programs they’re getting taught how to do those things. Like Tanner Bibee in Cleveland, part of the reason he got so successful so quick is because he threw strikes and controlled the running game. You had to beat him. This kid (Burns) has exceptional stuff.”
In Chattanooga on Saturday, Burns walked the first batter he faced, Cody Milligan. Burns picked Millagan off first. Burns gave up a single and an RBI double. The Lookouts had a strikeout double play as catcher Mike Trautwein threw out a runner trying to steal second.
Burns retired the last five batters he faced. He ended with a no-decision in an 8-2 win.
