Right-handed pitcher Chase Burns, the Reds' top prospect, needed only 13 starts across three Minor League levels to be deemed ready for the Major Leagues.
Burns, who was selected by Cincinnati with the No. 2 overall pick in the Draft less than a year ago, will make his big league debut against the Yankees at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday.
"You never know for sure when the right time is. But he's had as good a first year as you could hope for. He's passed every test," Reds general manager Brad Meador said. "We've moved him to every level and he continues to get better and stronger. We feel like now is the right time for him and for us. We feel like he's ready and we have a spot open. He gives us the best chance."
The 22-year-old Burns has dominated throughout his first pro season, posting a 1.77 ERA with 12.14 strikeouts per nine in 13 starts overall, as well as a 2.19 ERA in two starts since being promoted to Triple-A Louisville on June 9.
Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Reds' top prospect and No. 11 overall, Burns tied a career high with seven innings pitched in his most recent start on Wednesday against the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, allowing one run on three hits with seven strikeouts.
“I've seen him pitch all [of] one inning. That was a really good inning," manager Terry Francona said. "But ... when you talk about it -- and believe me, we have -- you almost try to like pick apart maybe why you shouldn't [call him up]. Kind of hard to come up with a reason why we shouldn't, I mean, tried to throw a lot at him. He's kind of handled everything.”
If the Reds bringing up their top pitching prospect quickly sounded familiar, it is. Just last season, Rhett Lowder was called up on Aug. 30 after only 22 Minor League starts to make his debut. Lowder, who like Burns was selected out of Wake Forest in the first round, posted a 1.17 ERA in six big league starts.
Like last year with calling up Lowder, the Reds also have holes in their rotation because of injuries. Hunter Greene is on the injured list with a right groin strain for the second time this season and is currently in Goodyear, Ariz., on a throwing program and rehabilitating.
Greene's rotation replacement, veteran lefty Wade Miley, was signed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract on June 4. After two starts for Cincinnati, Miley was placed on the IL Friday with a left flexor strain. It's the same arm that required Tommy John surgery on his elbow in 2024 while with the Brewers.
Considerations about Burns predated both the Greene and Miley injuries, however. Meador, president of baseball operations Nick Krall and multiple club scouts have been watching him throughout the season.
"It's been a conversation since he was in [Double-A] Chattanooga," Meador said. "[It's], 'Let's have a plan. Let's map it out. Let's make sure we can get him to the end of the season,' because that's important for next year."
During Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Cardinals in 11 innings, the Reds went with a bullpen day and originally scheduled Tuesday starter Nick Martinez pitched two innings on what was normally his side bullpen day. Martinez's next start was pushed back a day to Wednesday vs. the Yankees. Chase Petty, another prospect, took the loss after pitching the 11th inning and was sent back to Louisville after the game
Despite the immediate need, it's not viewed as a spot start for Burns.
"This is not a one-start thing. We've brought him up," Meador said.
As for limits on the mound for Burns in his first pro season, the Reds will have to figure that out as the season continues.
"He's full-go. There won't be a whole lot of limits for him right now as far as his first start," Meador said. "We're not going to run him out there for 120 pitches. He's built up. We're going to probably have to be creative as we get deeper into the season about getting him to the end and not overdoing it. We'll continue to monitor that. We'll have a plan."