One of the current prevalent trends for major league organizations is locking up their young, talented stars to long-term extensions early in their careers.
The latest installment of this method is the Cincinnati Reds extending 23-year-old right-hander Chase Burns for $105 million over seven years – the largest contract ever for a pitcher with fewer than four years of MLB service time.
Since the deal runs through the 2033 season, the Reds bought out two of Burns’ free agent years, but he can still hit the open market at age 30 barring another extension down the line.
Chase Burns Is A Budding Superstar Pitcher With Nasty Arsenal
A budding star, Burns has cemented himself as one of the better young pitchers during this 2026 season. He made his first All-Star team in July and has logged a 2.54 ERA over 102 2/3 innings. Burns boasts an 11-1 record, consistently giving Cincinnati a chance to win every time he toes the rubber despite the team’s struggles (45-54 last in NL Central) to this point. Together, Burns and fellow MLBbro Hunter Greene – who just returned from injury – create one of the most fearsome frontline rotation duos in the sport.
Standing at 6-feet-3 on the mound, Burns has dominated opposing hitters by primarily using just two pitches. His fastball and slider are each elite offerings, and he multiplies their effectiveness by tunneling them off each other. Burns’ heater averages 98 mph, and with his over-the-top arm angle and garnering almost 19 inches of induced vertical break on the pitch, batters have little chance when he places it at the top of the zone.
Hitters Batting Just .154 Against Bruns’ Breaking Ball
But Burns’ slider is what steals the show. Hitters are batting just .154 against his breaking ball, and he uses it as a put away pitch to his glove side. Developing his changeup could be the next step for Burns, but he is doing admirably with the four-seamer and slider combo. He is garnering plenty of swing-and-miss and chase, and once Burns improves his command, he can start going deeper into games and become a true workhorse starter.
Disposing of college hitters with ease, Burns had star written all over him in two seasons at Tennessee and one with Wake Forest. After his lone year with the Demon Deacons, where Burns went 10-1, posted a 2.70 ERA, and struck out nearly 49% of the batters he faced, Cincinnati selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He was on a fast track to the majors, debuting last June 26, which is less than a year after Burns heard his name called by the commissioner.
He juggled innings limits and MLB competition during his rookie season, finishing with a 4.57 ERA in 43 1/3 frames. But encouraging signs were there, as Burns still punched out 67 batters and flashed his ace-level stuff on the bump.
Now, Burns is on pace to receive Cy Young votes in his first full season of starting in the majors. The Reds were right to pay the hard-throwing righty now, because with maintained production, his price was only going to increase. If he continues to refine his skills, Burns will be on a rare trajectory and can spearhead Cincinnati’s contending hopes for years to come.
