CINCINNATI – Chase Burns’ MLB debut was both electric and memorable.
Burns, the 22-year-old Cincinnati Reds’ top prospect, struck out the first five batters he faced. The Yankees had no answers against the hard-throwing right-hander.
Burns fanned Trent Grisham to start things off. He then battled back from a 3-0 count to strike out Ben Rice.
Burns finished his first big league inning by striking out Aaron Judge. The near-sellout crowd at the Great American Ballpark erupted.
Even though Burns didn’t figure into the decision – the Reds beat the Yankees 5-4 in 11 innings – his performance would be the highlight of Tuesday night.
The first inning masterpiece took just 14 pitches – nine strikes.
Burns – the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 draft – then struck out the first two batters in the second inning, giving him five Ks in a row to begin his career.
It was the first time since 1961 that a pitcher struck out the first five in a debut, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Yankees’ third baseman Jazz Chisholm finally broke through with a hit. But Burns then fanned Anthony Volpe to end the inning and give him six strikeouts after facing just seven hitters.
Fans went bananas again. They couldn’t have asked for anymore, especially against the Yankees for a rookie pitcher.
The Yankees finally broke through in the fourth. Rice homered and Volpe had a two-run triple after the Reds’ centerfield came up empty on a dive try. NY led, 3-0.
Over five innings, Burns allowed three runs on six hits. He had no walks and eight strikeouts. He threw 81 pitches, 53 for strikes.
Chase Burns Made History In MLB Debut
Burns was the second Reds pitcher in the Live Ball Era (since 1920) to strikeout the first three batters in his debut. Mo Sanford did it for Cincinnati in 1991.
After dominating at the minor league level, the organization believes he’s ready to contribute at the highest stage.
Burns has been flashing the poise and presence of a future star on the mound. With a 7-3 record and an impressive 1.77 ERA in his minor league career, he’s consistently proven he can dominate at every level. Across both Double-A and Triple-A.
Burns has made a name for himself by carving up hitters with his deceptive delivery and electric stuff. His unique arm angle and sharp command have left batters guessing—and often walking back to the dugout empty-handed.
Before being drafted, Burns was already cementing his legacy as a Wake Forest legend. In 2024, the spotlight in college baseball belonged to LSU’s Paul Skenes—now the ace of the Pirates—but right behind him was Burns, who emerged as the top pitcher in the ACC. He set the single-season strikeout record at Wake Forest and was named the 2024 ACC Pitcher of the Year, solidifying his status as one of the nation’s elite arms.
Just like Skenes, Burns will now get his shot against a struggling Yankees lineup—just a year removed from the minors.
After dominating both Double-A and Triple-A, he’s earned his promotion, but the majors are a different beast. The lights are brighter, the hitters are smarter, and the margin for error is razor-thin. Still, with his electric stuff and rising confidence, Burns has all the tools to make an immediate impact at the next level.
On Tuesday, Burns took the mound for his MLB debut against the New York Yankees—a team searching for answers at the plate. It’s a high-stakes stage for any pitcher, let alone a rookie, but Burns showed the same command and composure he showed in the minors, he could make a statement under the Bright lights.
Although Burns only went five innings, in those innings Burns showed up against some of baseball’s best hitters.
***Rob Parker contributed to this report
