Following a 29-32 start to the season, and with their ace on the mound, the Cincinnati Reds had hope of righting the ship. However, manager Terry Francona had Hunter Greene pulled after five innings of work due to a flare-up in his groin. Following an MRI, Greene was placed back on the injured list with a strained right groin. Soon afterward, the Reds signed Wade Miley, who had previously been a Red for two years. This hasn’t been the best result so far, albeit in one appearance, but over two innings, Miley gave up four earned runs. When it comes to Reds pitching prospects, their top two options are Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns. However, Lowder suffered a significant oblique injury during a recent rehab start.
Reds Prospect Chase Burns’ Baseball Journey
After losing his rotation spot at his hometown University of Tennessee, Chase Burns transferred to Wake Forest for the 2024 season. Over 16 starts, Burns posted a 10-1 record with a 2.70 ERA over 100 innings pitched. In those 100 innings, he managed to strike out 191 batters, a school record for a single season. Burns accomplished this while only issuing 30 walks and giving up a measly 62 hits. His arsenal features a high-90s fastball, upper-80s slider with a 60% whiff rate, alongside a curveball and changeup that he uses sparingly. Burns’ biggest problem has been his fastball, as it tends to straighten out, allowing hitters to barrel it up. Of the 14 home runs he gave up in 2024, 10 of them came off the fastball despite the high-octane velocity it possesses. With this success, the Reds selected him second overall in the 2024 draft.
2025 So Far for Burns
Beginning the season with the High-A Dayton Dragons, Burns made three starts with a 3.09 ERA over 11 2/3 innings. In those three starts, he managed to strike out 20 batters, only giving up five hits before advancing to Double-A. Now with the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, Burns has completed eight starts with a 6-1 record in 42 innings. During those starts, he has pitched to a 1.29 ERA and a 0.714 WHIP with 55 strikeouts to only four walks.
Reds top prospect Chase Burns threw a complete game shoutout (7 inning game) while only allowing 3 hits, 0 walks and striking out 6.
Burns now has a 1.68 ERA through his first 11 professional stats with 75 K and 9 BB in 53.2 IP.#RedsMiLB
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) June 7, 2025
His arsenal has held opposing hitters to a .177 average, conceding only 26 hits and only three home runs. If the Reds want to get aggressive and give him a chance, he could get promoted around the All-Star break. The more likely option is that he goes to Triple-A shortly and receives the call toward the back end of the season. Either way, the Reds prospect has the arsenal and the stuff to compete at the Major League level and should pair with Hunter Greene as the Reds’ aces of the future.
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