Just 11 months after the Cincinnati Reds drafted him with the No. 2 overall pick, Chase Burns is already making his Major League debut, and the rest of the league is officially on notice.
The 22-year-old right-hander will take the mound Tuesday night against the New York Yankees, bringing with him a deadly fastball, elite movement, and a mechanical profile that’s drawing comparisons to prime Justin Verlander. His meteoric rise—just 66 innings into his pro career—reflects a new era of fast-tracked pitching prospects, fueled by analytics, advanced college training, and pure talent.
Burns Built Different
Since debuting in Class A just three months ago in front of a modest crowd in Michigan, Burns has done nothing but dominate. With a 1.77 ERA, 89 strikeouts, and just 13 walks allowed across three minor league levels, his stuff has overwhelmed hitters. His fastball averages 97.8 mph and comes from one of the highest release points in professional baseball (6.61 feet), matching closely with Verlander’s 2015 delivery metrics.
If that weren’t enough, he pairs it with a devastating wipeout slider—giving him the kind of two-pitch combo that has already buried hitters at every stop. Burns’ vertical release and spin rate nearly mirror Verlander’s, though he does have a steeper arm angle that puts more stress on the shoulder. While that could pose durability concerns long-term, there’s no denying the immediate upside.
Why Now?
The Reds didn’t initially plan to fast-track Burns to the majors, but a combination of opportunity and performance made the choice obvious. Injuries to Hunter Greene and Wade Miley left holes in the rotation, and Burns forced the issue with his pure dominance and readiness.
Manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Derek Johnson are said to be thrilled with his rapid development. Burns joins a growing arsenal of young arms in Cincinnati, which now includes Chase Petty (22), Rhett Lowder (23), Greene (25), Andrew Abbott (26), and Nick Lodolo (27). It’s one of the most exciting, high-upside rotations in the league—and it just added its most electric piece yet.
The Big Test: Yankee Stadium
Burns won’t have an easy debut. He faces a power-packed Yankees lineup on Tuesday night, becoming the youngest pitcher to debut against New York since Ian Anderson beat them in 2020. But if his minor-league performance and elite metrics are any indication, he’s not arriving just to compete—he’s arriving to win.
Around the Majors…
🔥 Sandy Alcántara Heating Up Just in Time for the Deadline
Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara looks like the top available pitcher on the market again. After a brutal 8.47 ERA from March through May, Alcántara has rebounded with a 2.74 ERA in June. His command and breaking pitches are back, and he’s now leaning heavily on his elite-spin slider (up to 39.1% usage), making him a prime trade target next month.
💣 Cal Raleigh: MLB’s Most Dangerous Power Bat on the Outer Half
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has become the league’s breakout power hitter, mashing 32 home runs—19 of which have come off pitches on the outer half of the plate. By moving closer to the plate and daring pitchers to go inside, he’s turned the outer third into his personal launch zone, joining names like Aaron Judge and Corbin Carroll at the top of the home run leaderboards.
👀 Sleeper Reliever Alert: Mike Soroka’s Slurve Could Be Deadline Gold
Buried under a 5.06 ERA, Washington Nationals starter Mike Soroka is hiding a potentially elite bullpen weapon. He’s throwing a slurve with absurd movement—2,920 RPM and 50 inches of drop—that has limited hitters to just 1-for-30 (.033 BA) this month. He also dominates early in outings and against righties, making him a perfect trade candidate for late-inning relief roles on contenders.
With Chase Burns now in the bigs and more arms like Alcántara and Soroka potentially changing teams soon, the 2025 MLB trade deadline is shaping up to be all about pitching. But make no mistake—Cincinnati just made the biggest internal upgrade of them all, and the baseball world is about to find out just how good Chase Burns really is.
