Photo by: Trevor Bowens
Chase Burns Set to Make MLB Debut with the Reds
6/24/2025 9:08:00 AM | Baseball
Burns becomes the 47th Demon Deacon to reach the big leagues and the 12th during head coach Tom Walter’s tenure.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Less than a year after hearing his name called as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Chase Burns will make his major league debut on Tuesday, as the Cincinnati Reds selected the contract of their top prospect.
"Chase is going to be a key piece of the Reds' pitching staff for years to come," said head coach Tom Walter. "He is a rare talent with a relentless work ethic and an unselfish approach to the game. We're proud to have been a part of his journey and look forward to watching him continue to succeed at the highest level."
The development of players under Walter looms large, as Burns becomes the 12th player to reach the league under his tutelage and the ninth in the last four years.
He joins Tim Cooney (Apr. 30, 2015), Mac Williamson (Sept. 23, 2015), Will Craig (Aug. 27, 2020), Gavin Sheets (June 29, 2021), Stuart Fairchild (July 6, 2021), Nate Mondou (Oct. 4, 2022), Jared Shuster (Apr. 2, 2023), Parker Dunshee (Aug. 8, 2024), Rhett Lowder (Aug. 30, 2024), Shane Smith (Apr. 1, 2025) and Nick Kurtz (Apr. 23, 2025).
Burns becomes the second member of the record-breaking 2024 MLB Draft class to reach the league, as he and fellow Demon Deacon Nick Kurtz make up a third of 2024 draftees to reach the league to this point.
He will be the first pitcher and the sixth player from the 2024 draft class to reach the big leagues, joining Jac Caglianone (Kansas City Royals), Kurtz (Athletics), Ryan Johnson (Los Angeles Angels), Christian Moore (Los Angeles Angels), and Cam Smith (Houston Astros).
The 2024 ACC Pitcher of the Year was the third Demon Deacon taken in the top 10 in program history, joining back-to-back ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder and Kyle Sleeth ('03). Additionally, Burns is the highest selected Demon Deacon in program history, surpassing Sleeth (3rd overall in 2003).
Burns was one of 14 Demon Deacon's all-time taken in the first round of the draft and one of seven in the last four years, joining Nick Kurtz (2024), Seaver King (2024), Rhett Lowder (2023), Brock Wilken (2023), Ryan Cusick (2021) and Jared Shuster (2020).
Burns reaches the highest level of professional baseball 345 days after hearing his name called in the 2024 MLB draft.
The righty has pitched to a 1.77 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 66 innings, with a 50-percent whiff rate against his slider this season in the minors.
In his last start at the Triple-A level, Burns struck out seven while allowing just three hits and a run with no walks in seven innings.
His 169 strikeouts at Wake Forest during the 2024 season ranks fifth all-time in ACC single-season history.
The Hendersonville, Tenn. native also led the league in H/9 (5.58), K/BB (6.37), K/9 (17.19) and WHIP (0.92), while ranking in the top 10 nationally in each of the categories.
With his run from March 11 to March 25 and again from May 6 to May 20, Burns is believed to be the first ACC pitcher to take home three-straight Pitcher of the Week honors since at least 2000.
Additionally, Burns joined elite company, becoming just one of two Atlantic Coast Conference pitchers to win the award six times in a season. Burns is the only six-time winner in Wake Forest baseball program history.
He was untouchable in the month of May, compiling 57 strikeouts to just five walks for a 11.40 K/BB ratio and a ridiculous 19.73 K/9 ratio to go along with a 0.34 ERA in four starts.
The righty finished his career as the active Division-I baseball strikeout leader with 408 career strikeouts, which led fellow first-rounder in Arkansas' Hagen Smith (360 career strikeouts) by 48 strikeouts.
Burns' 2024 Awards and Honors
Burns and the Reds are set to face the New York Yankees at 7:10 p.m. ET tonight.
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"Chase is going to be a key piece of the Reds' pitching staff for years to come," said head coach Tom Walter. "He is a rare talent with a relentless work ethic and an unselfish approach to the game. We're proud to have been a part of his journey and look forward to watching him continue to succeed at the highest level."
The development of players under Walter looms large, as Burns becomes the 12th player to reach the league under his tutelage and the ninth in the last four years.
He joins Tim Cooney (Apr. 30, 2015), Mac Williamson (Sept. 23, 2015), Will Craig (Aug. 27, 2020), Gavin Sheets (June 29, 2021), Stuart Fairchild (July 6, 2021), Nate Mondou (Oct. 4, 2022), Jared Shuster (Apr. 2, 2023), Parker Dunshee (Aug. 8, 2024), Rhett Lowder (Aug. 30, 2024), Shane Smith (Apr. 1, 2025) and Nick Kurtz (Apr. 23, 2025).
Burns becomes the second member of the record-breaking 2024 MLB Draft class to reach the league, as he and fellow Demon Deacon Nick Kurtz make up a third of 2024 draftees to reach the league to this point.
He will be the first pitcher and the sixth player from the 2024 draft class to reach the big leagues, joining Jac Caglianone (Kansas City Royals), Kurtz (Athletics), Ryan Johnson (Los Angeles Angels), Christian Moore (Los Angeles Angels), and Cam Smith (Houston Astros).
The 2024 ACC Pitcher of the Year was the third Demon Deacon taken in the top 10 in program history, joining back-to-back ACC Pitcher of the Year Rhett Lowder and Kyle Sleeth ('03). Additionally, Burns is the highest selected Demon Deacon in program history, surpassing Sleeth (3rd overall in 2003).
Burns was one of 14 Demon Deacon's all-time taken in the first round of the draft and one of seven in the last four years, joining Nick Kurtz (2024), Seaver King (2024), Rhett Lowder (2023), Brock Wilken (2023), Ryan Cusick (2021) and Jared Shuster (2020).
Burns reaches the highest level of professional baseball 345 days after hearing his name called in the 2024 MLB draft.
The righty has pitched to a 1.77 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 66 innings, with a 50-percent whiff rate against his slider this season in the minors.
In his last start at the Triple-A level, Burns struck out seven while allowing just three hits and a run with no walks in seven innings.
His 169 strikeouts at Wake Forest during the 2024 season ranks fifth all-time in ACC single-season history.
| Ranking | Player | School | Year | Strikeouts |
| 1. | Brian Barnes | Clemson | 1989 | 208 |
| 2. | Chris Benson | Clemson | 1996 | 204 |
| 3. | Brad Rigby | Georgia Tech | 1994 | 184 |
| 4. | Carlos Rodon | NC State | 2013 | 184 |
| 5. | Chase Burns | Wake Forest | 2024 | 169 |
The Hendersonville, Tenn. native also led the league in H/9 (5.58), K/BB (6.37), K/9 (17.19) and WHIP (0.92), while ranking in the top 10 nationally in each of the categories.
With his run from March 11 to March 25 and again from May 6 to May 20, Burns is believed to be the first ACC pitcher to take home three-straight Pitcher of the Week honors since at least 2000.
Additionally, Burns joined elite company, becoming just one of two Atlantic Coast Conference pitchers to win the award six times in a season. Burns is the only six-time winner in Wake Forest baseball program history.
He was untouchable in the month of May, compiling 57 strikeouts to just five walks for a 11.40 K/BB ratio and a ridiculous 19.73 K/9 ratio to go along with a 0.34 ERA in four starts.
The righty finished his career as the active Division-I baseball strikeout leader with 408 career strikeouts, which led fellow first-rounder in Arkansas' Hagen Smith (360 career strikeouts) by 48 strikeouts.
Burns' 2024 Awards and Honors
- 2024 ACC Pitcher of the Year
- 2024 Dick Howser Trophy Finalist
- 2024 First Team All-American by D1 Baseball
- 2024 First Team All-American by Perfect Game
- 2024 First Team All-American by Baseball America
- 2024 First Team All-American by ABCA
- 2024 First Team All-American by NCBWA
- 2024 First Team All-ACC
- 2024 Golden Spikes Semifinalist
- 2024 NCBWA District 4 Player of the Year
- 2024 All-ACC Tournament
- 2024 ABCA Atlantic All-Region First Team
- ACC Pitcher of the Week (May 20, 2024)
- ACC Pitcher of the Week (May 13, 2024)
- D1 Baseball Pitcher of the Week (May 13, 2024)
- NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the Week (May 13, 2024)
- Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List
- ACC Pitcher of the Week (May 6, 2024)
- ACC Pitcher of the Week (March 25, 2024)
- ACC Pitcher of the Week (March 18, 2024)
- ACC Pitcher of the Week (March 11, 2024)
- D1 Baseball Pitcher of the Week (March 11, 2024)
- NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the Week (March 11, 2024)
- Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List
- 2024 Preseason Second Team All-American by D1 Baseball
- 2024 Preseason Second Team All-American by NCBWA
- 2024 Preseason Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game
- 2024 Preseason First Team All-American by Perfect Game
- 2024 Preseason National Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game
- 2024 Preseason ACC Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game
- 2024 Preseason First Team All-American by Baseball America
Burns and the Reds are set to face the New York Yankees at 7:10 p.m. ET tonight.
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Players Mentioned
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