Reds News: Chase Burns' debut, minor league pitchers injured, Mets release ex-starter

The Cincinnati Reds lost their Opening Day game to the San Francisco Giants in heartbreaking fashion on Thursday. Cincinnati took a one-run lead into the top of the ninth, but ultimately fell to San Fran after Ian Gibaut surrendered a three-run home run to Wilmer Flores.

The Reds will have to wait nearly two days (and perhaps more if the forecast doesn't cooperate) in order to get the bad taste of losing out of their mouths. The Reds and Giants will continue their three-game series on Saturday afternoon following an off-day on Friday.

But while there was no big league business to speak of on Friday, the Reds' Triple-A affiliate got their 2025 season underway. How did the Louisville Bats fare in their opener and where will Chase Burns begin his Reds career?

Reds News: Chase Burns will begin at High-A Dayton

The Dayton Dragons' season begins next week, and while the roster has yet to be finalized, we now know that Chase Burns will begin his pro career in the Gem City. Rhett Lowder's minor league career began in similar fashion, and it would appear that Cincinnati is taking a similar approach with threir 2024 first-round draft pick.

Burns was taken with the No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft, but did not pitch professionally. Burns started one game during the Cactus League while the Reds were in Goodyear, and could very well be Dayton's Opening Day starter when the Dragons begin the 2025 season on the road next Friday against the Western Michigan White Caps.

Reds News: Connor Phillips, Alex Young, others to IL

The Louisville Bats' 2025 season started off with a bang on Friday night. It was a home run parade for the likes of Will Benson, Edwin Rios, and Tyler Callihan. The Bats opened their 2025 campaign with a 9-4 win over the Memphis Redbirds.

But it was a more somber start to the season for several minor league pitchers. Connor Phillips and Bryan Shaw were both placed on the seven-day injured list with undisclosed ailments. Alex Young was placed on the Bats' 60-day IL and Josh Staumont will miss the entire season.

Both Wade Miley and Tejay Antone are on the IL as well, as both pitchers continue to work their way back from elbow surgery. Miley is expected to return to the mound in the coming weeks, while Antone's absence could extend much deeper into the summer.

Reds News: Connor Overton released by NY Mets

Connor Overton signed a minor-league deal with the New York Mets this past offseason. But the right-hander will have to latch on with a new ball club if he hopes to pitch in 2025. On Friday, the Mets released Overton, sending him into the free agent market yet again.

Overton appeared in nine games for the Reds over two seasons (2022-2023), but missed a great deal of time due to injury. This spring, Overton appeared in seven Grapefruit League games for the Mets and owned a 3.38 ERA over 5 ⅓ innings of work.

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