The Cincinnati Reds were dealt an unfortunate blow before the 2026 MLB season when it was announced that star right-handed pitcher Hunter Greene would miss extended time with a right elbow injury. Greene was fantastic in 2025, making 19 starts with a 2.76 earned run average and 132 strikeouts in 107.2 innings pitched. This came after his first All-Star appearance in 2024, where he had a nearly identical 2.75 ERA, punching out 169 hitters in 150.1 innings pitched. That performance earned him an eighth-place Cy Young finish.
With Greene out, and now left-hander Nick Lodolo hitting the injured list with a blister issue, the Reds will be very reliant on 2024 second overall pick Chase Burns.
Burns got his first taste of Major League action last season, appearing in 13 games (eight starts) and logging 43.1 innings pitched. It was not a great showing for him at the big league level, as his ERA was 4.57 and his WHIP was 1.31. That said, Burns did show off his electric stuff, punching out 67 hitters in 43.1 innings pitched.
Burns has made this Reds roster out of spring training and is facing a lot of outside pressure due to the injuries to Greene and Lodolo. But in a sit-down interview with Charlie Clifford of NBC 5 Cincinnati, Reds manager Terry Francona admitted that the team is not placing extra pressure on Burns and recognizes he has just gone through his first full spring training.
While Francona said there’s a lot to like about what Burns does and how he does it, the Reds are going to keep a careful eye on him as he enters his first full Major League season.
Burns was selected second overall in the 2024 MLB Draft that is already shaping up to be a star-studded class. He pitched at Wake Forest where he was a superstar, appearing in 16 games his final season, striking out 191 batters in 100 innings pitched. He made just 13 starts at the minor league level, striking out 89 batters in 66 innings, pitching to the tune of a 1.77 ERA.
Numbers like that certainly earned Burns his opportunity at the big league level, and while the potential is through the roof, the Reds are admittedly going to be careful with him and avoid placing any unnecessary pressure on the 23-year-old right-hander. Burns is slated to make his first start of the 2026 season on Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It will be a good opportunity against a National League Central division opponent, who also has postseason aspirations after 91 losses last year.