Reds Beat: Chase Burns Plans To Make A Lasting Impression In Reds Rotation ‘A Statement of Intent’ From The Organization

CINCINNATI — The time is now for Chase Burns and the Reds.

In a move everyone in the organization calls a signal that the Reds are in a “win now” mode, the 22-year-old right-hander out of Wake Forest will make his debut Tuesday night against the team he grew up cheering for.

Burns needed just 13 minor league starts this season – his only in professional baseball – to ascend to the Majors. In those 13 starts spanning Class-A Dayton, Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville, the second overall pick of the 2024 MLB draft allowed just 13 runs in 66 innings, compiling a 7-3 record with a 1.77 ERA and a 0.77 WHIP.

After going 0-2 in Dayton in two starts, Burns was promoted to Double-A Chattanooga because his stuff was self-evident. In eight starts for the Lookouts, he was 6-1 with a 1.29 ERA, allowing just six earned runs in 42 innings. He then made two starts at Triple-A Louisville, allowing three earned runs in 12 1/3 innings.

His ability to throw a plus-changeup has transformed what the Reds believe his ceiling could be for getting outs at the Major League level.

The need for Burns in the Cincinnati rotation is obvious. Hunter Greene (groin) is still a ways away from returning, (set for a bullpen on July 2 in Boston). Wade Miley is nursing a torn flexor in his left arm and Rhett Lowder is off in the distance with an oblique injury.

The promotion of Burns coincided with Monday’s designation for assignment for Jeimer Candelario, a move that means the Reds are on the hook for the remainder of his $45 million contract through 2026. Candelario was batting just .113 in 22 games for the Reds this season before going on the injured list with a lumbar spine strain. His rehab ended Saturday and the Reds had to make a move on Candelario.

The acknowledgment of a mistake and the promotion of one of the best pitchers in minor league baseball should be heralded as a watershed moment for these Reds.

“I think this is a statement of intent,” Reds’ president of baseball operations Nick Krall said. “I think bringing up Chase Burns is a statement of intent. We want to win games. We felt that these are the moves that give us the best chance to win games, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

“(He has) pretty special stuff, and it’s exciting. There’s no getting around it,” added manager Terry Francona. “It’s exciting… It’s a message. I think it sends a huge message that we’re trying to win, and there’s no guarantees, but when, when everybody’s on the same page, pulling the same direction, it kind of buoys you up a little bit.”

If everything goes as hoped, Burns joins a rotation that features Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, Greene (when he returns), Brady Singer and Nick Martinez.

As for the kid himself, he’s naturally thrilled.

“It’s an historical team going against a great lineup,” Burns said. “So one of my favorite teams growing up. I love Derek Jeter. So, to be able to go against them, it’s awesome.”

Ironic, considering Burns was a shortstop at lower levels of baseball.

“Probably honestly, I wanted to be like Derek Jeter. I played shortstop, so I’m excited to have a Reds shirt on.”

Burns will become the 58th pitcher since 1961 to make his MLB debut against the Yankees, joining the likes of Luis Tiant, Blake Snell and Jacob deGrom.

When another Chase – Petty – made his big league debut earlier this season, Francona spoke of not making too much of what happens one way or another. Petty gave up nine runs and seven hits over just 2 1/3 innings in a 9-1 loss to the Cardinals in Game 2 of a doubleheader on April 30. Francona had the same messaging Monday but this feels much, much different. Like Burns feels he could stick – if things go reasonably well.

“Yeah, 100 percent,” Burns told me. “I have no clue what they’re going to do with me. I haven’t been talked to about it, but I go and give 100 percent effort and see how it goes from there.”

To Petty’s credit, he went back to Louisville, worked on his craft and was recalled over the weekend and took a tough-luck loss in the 11th against St. Louis on Saturday, nearly getting out of the free runner situation before the winning run scored with two outs.

The dynamic with Burns feels entirely different. That’s not to say the results are guaranteed to be any better. But with Burns, the Reds wouldn’t be calling up a pitcher this talented unless they thought they could help win games, not just eat innings.

“I talked about it a lot, wanting to move up quick and make an impact. But when it actually happens, you’re actually here, it’s just, it’s surreal,” Burns said. “So, just the other day, it felt like I was in Dayton making my first professional start, and now I’m here. So I’m excited. I guess we’ll find out. You never really know, honestly, but just going out there and give 100 percent.”

The real comp here could be Rhett Lowder, who also attended Wake Forest and made his big league debut with the Reds last summer. It went extremely well and he was considered a part of the projected 2025 rotation until right forearm and oblique problems derailed his season.

“(Graham) Ashcraft just told me ask as many questions as I can so get used to being in a big league clubhouse and taking it minute by minute and enjoying it. So I’m excited.”

Burns was given the traditional humorous heads up from Triple-A manager Pat Kelly, when informed on Sunday that he would be getting the call to the bigs.

“So I was actually leaving Louisville stadium with my roommate, Blake Dunn and PK, our manager in Louisville, actually called me twice, and I didn’t (answer) it,” Burns said. “And then he called me back there, and I was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, and I asked Dunn before the game. I was like, ‘Hey, man, can I wear this to the field? He’s like, Yeah, man, you’re fine. And PK didn’t know that, but he was like, this is totally unacceptable, you wearing this.’ And I was like, heart dropped. I was like, ‘oh man.’ It’s like, ‘Do I look that bad? And he was like, yeah. He’s like, ‘They’re not gonna let you wear this in the big leagues.’ And from there, it’s just all smiles and emotions. So it was awesome.”

Francona pregame Monday:

Jeimer Candelario DFA with roughly $22 million left on deal. “It was hard to get a hold of him. And Nick (Krall) finally talked to him and said it was, as you can imagine, (difficult). I have tried to reach out to him, and he understandably, it was just going to voicemail, and I get it, but again, I will say, it’s tough. But I know that there’s an appreciation from ownership (that) Nick and Brad (Meador), they’re trying to do whatever can help us be the best team we can be. And I know that’s not an easy decision, but we think it can help make us better.”

Noelvi Marte is playing seven innings in Arizona today. Will travel to Double-A Chattanooga and play Wednesday in Chattanooga.

Austin Hays will drive to Chattanooga today and DH Tuesday for the Lookouts.

Hunter Greene will join team in Boston and look to pitch a bullpen session on Wednesday July 2 at Fenway.