The Reds introduced this night that they’ve formally signed second general decide Chase Burns. MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis stories (on X) the the right-hander acquired a $9.25MM signing bonus. Whereas that’s a bit shy of the $9.79MM slot worth, it’s the most important signing bonus in draft historical past. Burns edges previous the $9.2MM which Paul Skenes secured as final yr’s first general decide.
It’s attainable that document will solely stand for a number of days. Burns is the primary participant from this yr’s high 10 to signal. First general decide Travis Bazzana (and doubtlessly #3 choice Charlie Condon) may land a loftier bonus within the coming weeks. That gained’t be of a lot concern to Burns, the primary pitcher to return off the board final week. Whereas Burns was extensively anticipated to be the highest pitcher chosen, he was a barely shocking decide at #2. Condon and West Virginia infielder JJ Wetherholt — who “slipped” to the Cardinals at #7 — had been marginally forward of Burns on most public rankings heading into the draft, largely due to the heightened harm danger for pitchers.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Keith Legislation of the Athletic every had Burns because the #5 participant within the class. FanGraphs slotted him sixth, whereas Baseball America ranked him fourth. All 4 publications had Burns and Arkansas lefty Hagen Smith as the highest two pitchers in some order.
Burns was a high-profile draft prospect as a excessive schooler again in 2021. Groups weren’t keen to satisfy his asking worth on the time, main the 6’3″ righty to the College of Tennessee. Burns had two sturdy seasons in Knoxville and transferred to Wake Forest for his draft yr. He began 16 instances for the Demon Deacons, firing 100 innings with a 2.70 earned run common. Burns fanned almost half the batters he confronted and simply led Division I pitchers with 191 strikeouts. Smith was second within the nation with 161 punchouts. He stored his stroll price to a 7.7% clip and completed his school profession with a 40% strikeout price towards a 7.6% stroll proportion.
With that stage of dominance, it’s not shocking that prospect evaluators counsel Burns has a top-of-the-rotation ceiling. Reviews credit score him with an upper-90s fastball that may run as excessive as 100 or 101 MPH. That pitch and his wipeout slider have every gotten 70 or 80 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale. Burns’ curveball and changeup are a bit behind the fastball/slider mixture and scouting stories level to some effort in his supply, however there’s not a lot query about his potential to stay as a starter. Each Legislation and McDaniel observe that he may transfer rapidly by the minors.
Cincinnati chosen one other Wake Forest righty, Rhett Lowder, within the high 10 a yr in the past. They’re hopeful that duo will be part of Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott as a part of a homegrown beginning workers. There’s harm danger with any group of younger pitchers and the Reds will want greater than 5 starters on an annual foundation, however that quintet could possibly be the nucleus of one of many sport’s greatest rotations if issues break proper over the subsequent couple seasons.
