RADIO
Chase Burns has Uneven Command in Spring Training
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Chase Burns has contended to flash immense upside throughout the early part of spring training, but has still struggled to command his pitches. Over his first 4 1/3 innings of work, the hard-throwing right-hander has walked five batters while striking out seven. He has surrendered only one run and held a modest 1.62 WHIP. Last summer, Burns made his MLB debut and had a similar outcome, posting an elite 35.6% K% but carrying a 4.57 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. However, under the hood, Burns generated a much lower 3.48 xERA with a .218 xBA, suggesting he may have gotten a bit unlucky during his first stint in the majors. Managers should continue to monitor his progress in camp, as his short-term upside could take a hit if he continues on this trajectory. Nonetheless, the former No. 2 overall pick is a prime breakout candidate in 2026, given his expected workload and immense strikeout potential.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
