Chase Burns blow-up vs. Red Sox sends warning shot to Reds front office

Last week, Chase Burns announced himself to the baseball world with an electric debut where he struck out the first five hitters he faced. Things didn’t go as well for him in his second start, as he allowed seven runs on five hits without recording one strikeout. And while that one start doesn’t change Burns’ status as one of baseball’s top prospects, it does show why fast-tracking prospects to MLB isn’t always a good thing. 

Burns is just one part of the Reds’ next core, as they also have Cam Collier, Chase Petty and Sal Stewart getting closer and closer to making their MLB debuts. And while it might be tempting for the Reds front office to pull the trigger on their promotion, Burns’ rough start on Wednesday showed the dangers of that. 

While having that many MLB-ready prospects is a good thing, it’s important to remember the minor leagues exist to help players learn the nuances and subtleties of the game.

Chase Burns blow-up vs. Red Sox sends warning shot to Reds front office

It can be tougher to learn those in MLB, as evidenced by Burns’ rough start. After the game, Reds manager Terry Francona openly questioned whether Burns was tipping his pitches, which is the kind of kink that you can flush out in the minors; it’s tougher to do that on the road at Fenway Park. 

Of those three prospects mentioned, Petty is the closest to being an everyday contributor, but his brief MLB cameos have shown why he still needs some time to grow. He allowed nine earned runs in 2 ⅓ innings in his MLB debut in April, and has recorded two more unsuccessful MLB appearances since. 

He’s had plenty of success in the minors this year (2.86 ERA in 50 ⅓ innings in Triple-A), but it’s clear that he’s not ready to attack MLB hitters. We’re getting close to a point of saying that about Burns, who couldn’t seem to counter Boston attacking his electric fastball. 

Both Collier and Stewart are in Double-A, but it’s not hard to imagine how they could help the Reds. Stewart has an .888 OPS with 13 stolen bases, while Collier has hit .359 in 12 games since getting called up to Double-A. They’re both key parts of the Reds future, but there’s no need to rush them into the present, regardless of how tempting it may be. 

The Reds’ offense has found a new level lately thanks to strong play from Spencer Steer and Elly De La Cruz, but they’re going to need more from the lineup as a whole if they want to stay afloat in the National League postseason picture. They should use the trade deadline to grab those reinforcements, not the farm system.

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