MLB Draft expert believes Chase Burns' could join Reds faster than you'd think

The youth movement is in full effect in the majors. The Cincinnati Reds boast a rotation that features four starters age-26 or younger, and MLB experts predict that team's first-round draft pick Chase Burns could join the majors sooner rather than later.

Burns, who went No. 2 in the 2024 MLB Draft after his junior year at Wake Forest, could be on the Paul Skenes path to the bigs. In fact, the Reds’ newest recruit has drawn comparisons to the Rookie of the Year frontrunner.

Burns wasn’t quite as effective at shutting down opponents — Skene’s junior year ERA is a full run better — but Burns holds the advantage in strikeouts per nine. Could the flame-throwing righty be repping the Reds at the next All-Star Game?

Reds' first-round pick Chase Burns could be on a fast-track to the big leagues

The Reds are no stranger to young talent. Andrew Abbott went from college to 2021 draftee to 2023 starting rotation. His path may indicate how Cincinnati will handle their newest talent. Having pitched 100-plus innings in college, Abbott tossed just 13 combined innings across Rookie and Low-A ball in 2021. Similarly, last year’s first-round pick Rhett Lowder didn’t see any professional ball after his selection, instead landing on the development list in order to adjust to life as a pro.

Abbott and Lowder both traversed High-A and Double-A in their first full pro season. Double-A Chattanooga was a stumbling block for Abbott, who held a 1.374 WHIP, and Lowder is currently laboring at that level. In 2023, Abbott repeated the level and climbed through Triple-A to the majors.

Despite his awe-inspiring stuff, Burns will likely need some time to adjust to the rigors of pro ball and to rest after a full season of college. That said, if the Reds do opt to fast-track Burns, they could look no further than 2009 first-round pick Mike Leake, who played in the Arizona Fall League before winning a starting spot out of spring training. Leake played a grand total of two minor league games in his career.

Still more extreme would be the case of 2003 first-rounder Ryan Wagner. He raced through Double and Triple-A before debuting with the Reds in July 2003. Wagner, though, was a reliever and would not have been subject to an innings limit.

While the excitement around Burns may drive the fanbase to push for swift promotions, the Reds’ record seems to prioritize a steady progression through the minors. Still, a future rotation featuring Burns, Lowder, and Abbott alongside Nick Lodolo and Hunter Greene may be a reality next season.

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