Friday, July 25

CHICAGO -- Chase Burns is bucking for another promotion but how about two promotions? That would put the starting pitcher and Reds top prospect in the big leagues. 

Not so fast, felt Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall.

“It’s not something where we’re ready to go," Krall said on Thursday. "It just depends on how his progression goes. Obviously, there’s some things to work on, some speedbumps. But he’s pitched really well overall.”

Ranked No. 1 in the organization and No. 11 overall by MLB Pipeline, Burns has a 1.54 ERA with Double-A Chattanooga in seven starts after pitching in Saturday's game vs. Columbus (Ga.). He has only four walks to go with 49 strikeouts over his 35 innings.

Against Columbus, Burns allowed zero runs and two hits with one walk and four strikeouts. That came after the 22-year-old, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 Draft, struck out 10 over five innings in a win over Rocket City. 

That came after the 22-year-old, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 Draft, struck out 10 over five innings in a win over Rocket City. 

“He’s dominated in Double-A so far and continues to make progress. He’s been really good. You can’t ask for more," Krall said.

Over his first three pro starts, for High-A Dayton, the right-handed Burns had a 3.09 ERA with five walks and 20 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings.

In late August of 2024, during his first pro season, Cincinnati promoted Rhett Lowder to the big leagues after only 22 Minor League starts. Lowder showed he was ready as he posted a 1.17 ERA in six starts. Like Lowder, Burns also was selected out of college at Wake Forest.

Lowder was needed in a pinch because of injuries wrecking the big league rotation. 

Entering this season, the Reds felt they had ample depth but it has been thinned by injuries. Lowder, the club's No. 2 prospect, hasn't pitched in the big leagues after dealing with a forearm injury and suffering a severely strained oblique in a setback during his rehab assignment. 

Carson Spiers is still in Arizona rehabbing from a right shoulder impingement. Wade Miley, who was signed to a Minor League deal, has been pitching at Triple-A Louisville while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, but he has a Sunday deadline to opt out if he's not in the Majors.

That could potentially move Burns up in the depth chart, especially if he continues to pitch the way he has. If the Reds were contenders later this year, it's not hard to imagine him being an option if there was a rotation opening.

The Reds are going to exercise maximum patience for someone who currently has only two months of experience in pro ball under his belt. At the same time, you can't rule out Burns' big league bid either.

“For him, it’s continuing to build up his pitch count and refine little things that might [help]," Krall said. "You don’t always see what you have to work on. It’s continuing to build his routine, continuing to progress and obviously he’s made a lot of progress. He’s doing really well. It’s still continuing to get him to work through things, improve and get to the next level.”

Another 2024 Draft pick, shortstop Tyson Lewis, is off to a hot start as well in his first pro season. The 19-year-old Lewis, who was taken in the second round (51st overall), has a .357/.429/.524 slash line through 11 games with the rookie-level short-season ACL Reds. 

Krall was watching Lewis, the organization's No. 9 prospect, play early last week in Goodyear, Ariz.

“He looked good," Krall said. "He’s making progress and is learning how to take at-bats. But it’s a high school kid from Nebraska so it’s not a lot of playing under his belt. He’s got a ways to go.”

Elly De La Cruz has been hitting well but on the bases, it's been clear that the Reds shortstop isn't running at 100 percent. During Friday's 6-2 win over the Cubs, De La Cruz hit a first-inning double to left-center field but slowed up heading into second base rather than consider going for three bases. He also didn't run full speed on a pop up to shallow left field.

Manager Terry Francona noted that De La Cruz is playing through a sore hamstring.

“It’s been like that for a while. He’s managed it really well," Francona said on Saturday. "I actually think he’s getting better and better. We were keeping an eye on him in Kansas City but it’s really improving.”

“One of the worst things is when a guy isn’t hitting and you see him taking it out to the field. You're watching him in the dugout and they’re beating the [hell] out of their helmet over and over. He doesn’t do that. He plays the game. His emotions never change. I fall back that he’s a good player. He’s going to get hot. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened yet but it will.” -- Francona on struggling second baseman Matt McLain

• Andrew Abbott pitched a gem on Friday and is among all-time Reds for lowest ERA in  a month.

• Left fielder Austin Hays went on the injured list for the third time this season.

• Hunter Greene had a visitor on Friday as McLaren Racing's Formula One boss came and took batting practice at Wrigley Field.

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