Chase Burns: From Tennessee Volunteer to MLB Rising Star
Chase David Burns (born January 16, 2003) is an American professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). His journey to the majors involved a successful college career, first with the Tennessee Volunteers and later with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, before being drafted into the pros.
Early Life and High School
Burns grew up in Gallatin, Tennessee, and initially attended Station Camp High School. His talent on the mound was evident early on, drawing attention and setting the stage for his collegiate career.
College Career at Tennessee
Freshman Year (2022)
Burns entered his freshman season at Tennessee as a key member of the Volunteers' starting rotation. He made a significant impact, finishing the season with an impressive 8-2 record and a 2.91 ERA. In 81+1⁄3 innings pitched, he recorded 103 strikeouts, showcasing his potential as a dominant pitcher.
Sophomore Year (2023)
Entering his sophomore year, Burns again started as a member of the Volunteers' starting rotation. However, after a rocky start, going 2-3 with a 6.10 ERA, he was moved to a relief role midway through the season. This change proved beneficial, as Burns excelled in the bullpen.
In postseason play, Burns was exceptional, allowing only one run and striking out 22 batters over 16 innings. A highlight was his performance in the 2023 Men's College World Series, where he threw six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in a 6-4 win over Stanford. He concluded the season with a 5-3 record, two saves, a 4.25 ERA, and 114 strikeouts over 72 innings pitched.
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Transfer from Tennessee
Despite his success, Burns felt he had plateaued at Tennessee. Tennessee Volunteers baseball coach Tony Vitello said that he had known "that he would be gone for a while," with Burns indicating to him that he was planning to transfer during the middle of the 2023 season. “This season went in a lot of different ways,” Vitello said, “and as coaches, we've got to do what we think is best for the whole group and find a way to try to win games. In the end, I think that worked out fairly well. But for his case, he's going to take his efforts somewhere else.”
Time at Wake Forest
The transfer ultimately worked for Burns, as he turned in a 2.88 ERA with a whopping 191 strikeouts across 100 innings for the Demon Deacons in 2024.
Professional Career
Draft and Signing
The Cincinnati Reds selected Chase Burns with the second overall pick in the 2024 Major League Baseball draft. On July 18, he signed with the team for a record-setting $9.25 million, surpassing the MLB signing bonus record previously held by Paul Skenes.
Minor League Career
After the draft, Burns began working out at the Reds' spring training site, Goodyear Ballpark, and was then assigned to the Arizona Instructional League. He made his professional debut with the Dayton Dragons on April 4, 2025, and quickly progressed through the Reds' minor league system. After three appearances in Single-A, Burns was promoted to the Chattanooga Lookouts. In eight appearances at the Double-A level, Burns added a changeup to his pitch mix, further developing his repertoire.
Major League Debut
On June 24, 2025, the Reds promoted Burns to the major leagues. He was the first pitcher from the 2024 draft class to reach the majors. Burns is also noted as the sixth Italian-born pitcher in Major League Baseball, and the first since the 2024 season.
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Burns made his debut against the New York Yankees, making history with five consecutive strikeouts to start the game.
MLB Speedway Classic
Tennessee native Chase Burns will get the start for the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, Aug. 2, when the MLB Speedway Classic travels to Bristol Motor Speedway. It's a historic day for the state of Tennessee and MLB, as it's the first-ever game being held in the state. It's only fitting that Burns, who played for the Vols and hails from Hendersonville, Tennessee, is facing off against Atlanta Braves pitching Spencer Strider, who went to Christian Academy of Knoxville.
Pitching Style and Development
During his time in Double-A, Burns worked on incorporating a changeup into his pitching arsenal. Despite a 6.26 ERA this season, he has recorded 45 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings, including 10 strikeouts in each of his last three starts.
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