Chase Burns Bio
Chase David Burns is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball. Born on January 16, 2003, in Italy while his parents were stationed there with the United States military, Burns grew up in Gallatin, Tennessee. He emerged as one of the most dominant pitchers in college baseball history before being selected by the Reds with the second overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft. Burns made his major league debut in June 2025, becoming the first pitcher from his draft class to reach the big leagues. He is the sixth Italian-born pitcher in Major League Baseball history and the first since the 2024 season.
Early Life and Background
Burns grew up in Gallatin, Tennessee, where he developed his passion for baseball at a young age. He initially attended Station Camp High School before transferring to Beech Senior High School for his senior year. His childhood favorite player and team was Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees. Burns’ father played college football for the North Greenville Trailblazers, giving Chase an athletic family background.
Despite being selected in the 20th round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft by the San Diego Padres, Burns chose not to sign with the team. This decision allowed him to continue his development in college, where he would establish himself as an elite pitching prospect.
Path to Professional Baseball
Burns began his collegiate career at the University of Tennessee, joining the Volunteers’ starting rotation as a freshman. He immediately proved himself at the Division I level, finishing his freshman season with an 8-2 record, a 2.91 earned run average, and 103 strikeouts across 81.1 innings pitched. His exceptional performance earned him the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Freshman Pitcher of the Year award.
During his sophomore season at Tennessee, Burns experienced a shift in his role. After going 2-3 with a 6.10 ERA as a starter, he was moved to a relief role midway through the season. Despite this transition, he excelled in postseason play, allowing only one run and striking out 22 batters over 16 innings pitched. He threw six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in a 6-4 victory over Stanford in the 2023 Men’s College World Series. He finished the season with a 5-3 record, two saves, a 4.25 ERA, and 114 strikeouts in 72 innings.
After the 2023 season, Burns entered the NCAA transfer portal and ultimately chose to continue his career at Wake Forest University. At Wake Forest, he elevated his game to an even higher level, setting the Demon Deacons’ single-season record with 191 strikeouts. His dominant performance earned him the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Year award, solidifying his status as one of the top prospects in the 2024 draft class.
Chase Burns Career
Professional Career (2024-Present)
The Cincinnati Reds selected Burns with the second overall pick in the first round of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the team on July 18, 2024, for a signing bonus of $9.25 million, which broke the MLB signing bonus record previously set by Paul Skenes the year prior. Following the draft, Burns began his professional development at the Reds’ spring training site in Goodyear Ballpark before being assigned to the Arizona Instructional League.
Minor League Ascent (2025)
Burns made his professional debut with the Dayton Dragons, the Reds’ Single-A affiliate, on April 4, 2025. His rapid progression through the minor leagues soon followed. After just three appearances in Single-A, the Reds promoted him to the Chattanooga Lookouts, their Double-A affiliate. At the Double-A level, Burns added a changeup to his pitch mix, further developing his arsenal. He made eight appearances with Chattanooga before earning a promotion to the Louisville Bats, where he made two starts.
The Reds promoted Burns to the major leagues on June 24, 2025, making him the first pitcher from the 2024 draft class to be promoted to the majors. He became the sixth Italian-born pitcher in Major League Baseball history.
Cincinnati Reds Era (2025-Present)
Burns made his MLB debut against the New York Yankees, delivering an extraordinary performance that drew national attention. He struck out eight batters, including the first five in a row to start the game. This feat made him the first starting pitcher since at least the Expansion Era (1961) to strike out the first five batters in a debut. He allowed six hits and three earned runs but earned a no-decision in his debut outing.
Burns encountered difficulty in his second major league appearance, surrendering seven runs while recording just one out in a blowout loss to the Boston Red Sox. He bounced back from this setback and continued developing as a major league starter throughout the remainder of the 2025 season.
On March 30, 2026, Burns earned his first major league victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He pitched five scoreless innings, allowing one hit with three walks and seven strikeouts. Through June 21, 2026, Burns has compiled a 9-4 win-loss record with a 2.86 earned run average and 169 strikeouts in his major league career.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Burns features a power-oriented pitching style built around his mid-to-high 90s fastball. His breaking pitches and newly developed changeup complement his heat, making him an effective strikeout pitcher at the professional level. His ability to miss bats and generate swings and misses has translated well to the major leagues, as evidenced by his 169 strikeouts through his first season and a half in the big leagues. He demonstrates poise on the mound and has shown the capacity to work through challenging innings.
Notable Events and Milestones
Burns’ debut against the New York Yankees stands as one of the most memorable debuts in recent baseball history. His feat of striking out the first five batters he faced set a new standard for starting pitchers making their MLB debut. His $9.25 million signing bonus established a new MLB record at the time of his selection. Additionally, his 191 strikeouts in a single season at Wake Forest remain a school record, showcasing his ability to dominate over a full collegiate campaign.
Chase Burns Career Highlights
Burns has accumulated impressive statistics across his brief professional career. His 169 strikeouts through June 21, 2026, demonstrate his ability to miss bats at the highest level. His career win-loss record stands at 9-4 with a 2.86 earned run average. Burns has recorded multiple quality starts and shown the capacity to pitch effectively in high-leverage situations.
College Baseball Highlights
Burns established himself as one of college baseball’s most dominant pitchers during his three seasons at the Division I level. At Tennessee, he earned Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors and helped lead the Volunteers to postseason success. His performance at Wake Forest, where he set the school single-season strikeout record with 191, earned him ACC Baseball Pitcher of the Year recognition. His combined collegiate totals include over 270 strikeouts across approximately 150 innings pitched.
Professional Highlights
Burns’ professional career has been marked by rapid advancement. He went from being selected second overall in the 2024 draft to making his MLB debut less than a year later, becoming the first pitcher from his draft class to reach the majors. His debut performance, while resulting in a no-decision, showcased his electric stuff and ability to compete against major league hitters immediately. His first career win in March 2026 against the Pirates provided a milestone moment as he continues establishing himself in the Reds’ rotation.
Chase Burns Family
Family Background
Burns was born in Italy on January 16, 2003, where his parents were stationed with the United States military. His father played college football for the North Greenville Trailblazers, providing Chase with a sports-oriented family background. Burns grew up in Gallatin, Tennessee, after his family returned from their military posting in Italy.
Personal Life
Burns grew up cheering for the New York Yankees and named Derek Jeter as his favorite player and team during his childhood. As a military child, Burns attended multiple schools and adapted to new environments before settling in Tennessee. His athletic family background, combined with his natural abilities, contributed to his development as a professional athlete. Burns continues to represent the Cincinnati Reds as one of the youngest players in Major League Baseball.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Burns’ rookie year in Major League Baseball following his rapid ascent through the minor leagues. Promoted from Triple-A Louisville in late June, Burns made an immediate impact with his debut against the Yankees, showcasing the stuff that made him the second overall pick in the 2024 draft. Despite a rough second outing against Boston, Burns settled into a routine and began accumulating important major league experience.
Throughout the remainder of the 2025 season, Burns worked to refine his command and adjust to major league hitting. His ability to generate strikeouts translated well to the big league level, and his 169 strikeouts through late June 2026 indicate he maintained his swing-and-miss ability against higher-quality competition. The Reds have shown patience with his development, providing him opportunities to learn and grow as a professional pitcher.
Looking ahead, Burns projects as a cornerstone piece of the Reds’ starting rotation for years to come. His combination of power stuff, strikeout ability, and competitive mentality gives him the tools to develop into an ace at the major league level. As he gains more experience and refines his secondary offerings, Burns has the potential to become one of the premier pitchers in the National League.