Top prospect Chase Burns makes debut as Reds face Yankees

The Cincinnati Reds hope to get a glimpse of a future ace when they send their top pitching prospect to the mound against one of the best lineups in baseball.

Chase Burns, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft last July, is being promoted to face the New York Yankees in the second game of the three-game series Tuesday night in Cincinnati.

The 22-year-old right-hander out of Wake Forest will face the team that he cheered on when he was young.

"It's an historical team going against a great lineup," Burns said. "So one of my favorite teams growing up. I love Derek Jeter. So, to be able to go against them, it's awesome."

Burns needed just 13 minor league starts this season -- his only in professional baseball -- to ascend to the majors. In those 13 starts spanning Class-A Dayton, Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville, Chase allowed just 13 earned runs in 66 innings, compiling a 7-3 record with a 1.77 ERA.

The need for Burns in the Cincinnati rotation is obvious. Hunter Greene (groin) is still a ways away from returning, (set for a bullpen on July 2 in Boston). Wade Miley is nursing a strained flexor in his left arm and Rhett Lowder is off in the distance with an oblique injury.

The promotion of Burns coincided with Monday's designation for assignment for Jeimer Candelario, a move that means the Reds are on the hook for the remainder of his $45 million contract through 2026. Candelario was batting just .113 in 22 games for the Reds this season before going on the injured list with a lumbar spine strain.

"(He has) pretty special stuff, and it's exciting. There's no getting around it," Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said of Burns. "It's a message. I think it sends a huge message that we're trying to win, and there's no guarantees, but when, when everybody's on the same page, pulling the same direction, it kind of buoys you up a little bit."

The Yankees will counter with left-hander Carlos Rodon (9-5, 3.10 ERA), making his 17th start of the season. Last Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels, Rodon earned his ninth win after allowing three runs -- on three solo home runs -- over six innings.

Rodon has recorded at least seven strikeouts in 11 of his 16 starts this season. The southpaw is 8-2 with a 2.35 ERA over his last 12 starts. Rodon is 2-2 in four career starts against Cincinnati, including a 3.32 ERA.

In Monday's 6-1 Cincinnati win, the Yankees had their chances but went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

"We didn't put the ball in play with runners out there when we had opportunities," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

It was an entertaining night for fans as Aaron Judge belted an upper-deck homer in the first for a 1-0 New York lead. But Cincinnati's biggest star -- Elly De La Cruz answered with three hits and came within a double of second career cycle on the two-year anniversary of his first cycle against the Atlanta Braves on June 23, 2023.

"He can hit, he can throw, he's got the wheels, he's got the power -- we saw it tonight. He's a total package," Judge said of De La Cruz. "You don't want to see him come up with guys on base, or honestly, in any situation."

--Field Level Media