Reds' Chase Burns' early-career MLB history hit hard by Angels
Cincinnati's second-year starter received a Cy Young award nod. Is it his time?
Reds' Chase Burns' early-career MLB history hit hard by Angels originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Perhaps certain MLB insiders should edit their Cy Young thoughts regarding Cincinnati Reds starter Chase Burns.
Burns, who established a modern era record by amassing at least nine strikeouts in five of his 10 starts of at least 6. 0 innings , failed to add to his almost fabled early career outings. Before Burns, no pitcher since at least 1901 had accomplished that feat more than three times during that span.
Evidenced by his elite pitch movement, Burns, the second overall pick in the 2023 amateur draft, debuted with the Reds on June 24, 2025, by striking out the first three batters he faced , New York Yankees ' Trent Grisham, Ben Rice and Aaron Judge. All went down swinging. After his opening two starts this season, ESPN's Jeff Passen declared Burns will claim the NL Cy Young award because "his stuff is ultra-premium, particularly his fastball (at 98.
6 the second hardest on average among major league starters) and slider (generating an otherworldly 56. 3 percent whiff rate). "This is Burns' time.