Reds just made the most obvious roster move to officially welcome Chase Burns

This was a given.

Drew Koch

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Yosver Zulueta / Jeff Dean/GettyImages

Reds Country has been buzzing since last week after learning that top prospect Chase Burns was on his way to the big leagues. The former No. 2 overall pick will make his MLB debut tonight when the Cincinnati Reds go up against the New York Yankees.

In order to officially promote Burns to the Reds active roster, however, the club needed to make a move. Having already designated both Garrett Hampson and Jeimer Candelario for assignment over the past few days, there was already space on the Reds 40-man roster.

The Reds optioned reliever Yosver Zulueta back to Triple-A Louisville and selected Burns' contract in order to make the move official. Zulueta was recalled just a few days ago after Reds manager Terry Francona exhausted his bullpen during the road trip to St. Louis. Zulueta didn't even enter a game after his most recent call-up.

Reds option Yosver Zulueta, welcome top prospect Chase Burns for his MLB debut vs. Yankees

Burns has been fast-tracked to the big leagues after being drafted with the second-overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. The Wake Forest (and Tennessee) product enjoyed a stellar collegiate career, but didn't make his pro debut until earlier this spring. Much like the Reds did with former first-rounder Rhett Lowder, Cincinnati kept Burns off the mound until the year after he was drafted.

In 13 minor-league contests this season, the fireballer has been nearly un-hittable. Burns was making the opposition look silly with his absurd heater coupled with a fall-off-the-plate slider. Burns also has a curveball that he uses sparingly, and he'll need to continue to develop that offering in order to achieve his full potential at the big league level.

Tonight's game against the Yankees is going to be must-see TV, especially during the top of the first inning when Burns goes one-on-one with the reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge. The Yankees' slugger took Nick Lodolo deep during the first inning of Monday's game, and Reds fans are hoping the same fate doesn't await the rookie when he steps onto the major-league mound for the first time this evening at Great American Ball Park.

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Drew Koch

Drew Koch has been an MLB Staff Writer since January 2024 and part of the FanSided Network since June 2018. Drew's contributions have been published on Blog Red Machine, Friars on Base, BoSox Injection, Lombardi Avenue, Wildcat Blue Nation, Motor City Bengals, and many other sites within the FanSided Network. When he's not cheering wildly for the Cincinnati Reds or the Kentucky Wildcats, Drew enjoys fishing, golfing, playing cribbage and other card games, listening to country and classical music, and spending time with his family and friends.