Wed Jun 25 02:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Reds Rookie Chase Burns Dazzles, Then Falters, in MLB Debut Against Yankees
**CINCINNATI, OH** – Cincinnati Reds rookie pitcher Chase Burns showcased electric stuff in his major league debut Tuesday night against the New York Yankees, but ultimately couldn’t sustain the dominance, allowing three runs in five innings. The 22-year-old right-hander, drafted second overall last year, became only the third pitcher since 1961 to begin his MLB career with six consecutive strikeouts.
Burns, who averaged 98.1 mph with his fastball and hit 100.1 mph twice in the first inning, mowed down the first five Yankees batters he faced. He struck out seven of the first ten hitters, baffling them with a mix of fastballs and sliders.
“His stuff was electric early, then he got a little tired,” Reds Manager Bell said after the game.
The momentum shifted in the fourth inning when Ben Rice launched a 413-foot home run off a hanging slider. Aaron Judge followed with a single, and later in the inning, Anthony Volpe drove in two runs with a triple after a misplayed ball in center field by TJ Friedl.
Despite the hiccups, Burns flashed the potential that made him a top draft pick. He finished the night with eight strikeouts, becoming the seventh Reds starter to reach that mark in their debut. His first big league pitch was a 98.4 mph fastball, setting the tone for a promising, albeit uneven, first outing.
Burns joins Al Leiter and Wade Davis as the only pitchers in the expansion era to record their first six outs via strikeout. He’s also the fifth first-round pick from the 2023 draft to reach the majors, a testament to the quick progress being made by last year’s top prospects.
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