Reds set to call up top pitching prospect Chase Burns from minors to start against Yankees
ST. LOUIS — The Cincinnati Reds are preparing to call up top pitching prospect Chase Burns to start during their series against the New York Yankees this week.
Burns, a 22-year-old right-hander, has rapidly moved through the minor leagues after Cincinnati drafted him with the No. 2 pick last year from Wake Forest. Burns is 7-3 with a 1.77 ERA in 13 starts at three minor-league levels this year, including two with Triple-A Louisville.
'It's kind of hard to come up with a reason why we shouldn't,' Reds manager Terry Francona said Sunday. 'They tried to throw a lot at him. He just kind of handled everything.
The Reds' rotation is short-handed after starters Hunter Greene and Wade Miley went on the injured list earlier this month.
Nick Lodolo is scheduled to start Monday's series opener against New York, and the 6-foot-3 Burns is in line to make his debut Tuesday.
'It's another game, but it is a major league team, He's going to have a lot of firsts, but he's handled everything so far,' said Francona, whose team entered Sunday with a 39-38 record and in fourth place in the NL Central.
'And I think there's an excitement, and, you know, I think the front office, they're trying to help us win, and I think we appreciate that.'
Cincinnati also made a series of roster moves before Sunday's game at St. Louis, recalling right-hander Yosver Zulueta from Triple-A Louisville and bringing back third baseman Jeimer Candelario (lumbar spine strain) from a three-week rehab assignment.
Right-hander Chase Petty was optioned to Louisville, and second baseman Garrett Hampson was designated for assignment.
The Cardinals recalled right-hander Gordon Graceffo from Triple-A Memphis and optioned right-hander Andre Granillo to Memphis.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Fernando Cruz uses his ‘gift pitch' to get Yankees out of big late-game jam
Access the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. Try it free Fernando Cruz refers to his splitter as his 'gift pitch.' When it's diving effectively, that gift translates to swings and misses by opposing batters in bunches. Advertisement The righty reliever and his heavy splitter delivered three key strikeouts with two runners aboard in the eighth inning Sunday, and his lights-out performance with a one-run deficit gave the Yankees a chance to post three runs in the bottom half for a 4-2 win over the Orioles at the Stadium. With the Yanks trailing 2-1, lefty Tim Hill walked the first two batters he faced in the inning, but Cruz came on and fanned Ramón Laureano, Colton Cowser and Cedric Mullins — all swinging — in succession to squelch the threat. 'In that situation where two guys are on, you really want the swing-and-miss. The game's on the line there, you're gonna live or die with it,' Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the game. 'Just an outstanding job of execution. To strike out three [in a row] was massive to keep the game right there.' Fernando Cruz reacts during the Yankees-Orioles game on June 22, 2025. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Advertisement The uplifting outing marked the first relief appearance for Cruz since he had walked three batters and allowed a run in one inning of work in Wednesday's loss to the Angels. 'That's gonna happen every now and then. The reality is, on balance, he's been outstanding for us this year,' Boone added. Indeed, the 35-year-old Cruz has posted a 3.26 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP and 50 strikeouts in 30 ¹/₃ innings over 29 appearances since he was acquired in a December deal that sent former All-Star catcher Jose Trevino to the Reds. Advertisement 'I feel like my splitter is just a gift pitch. It's been there the whole time, I just had to make an adjustment to get it more to the strike zone. Today was that kind of day,' Cruz said. 'We've been working at it. We've been on top of it, and it was there today. 'It feels like everything for me because there were two runners that my guy left on base. I think picking [Hill] up, like he picks me up every time, is such a huge thing for me and being able to help the team stay with a one-run [deficit] was huge for us to be able to come back and win it.' Cruz didn't make it to the major leagues until his age-32 season, when Cincinnati finally promoted him in 2022 after 12 seasons in minor league ball. Advertisement CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND YANKEES STATS The first-place Yankees will open a three-game road series Monday night against the Reds. 'It means a lot. Cincinnati is a special place for me. It's gonna be like that my whole life,' Cruz said. 'It's where I made my debut, and it's the organization that gave me an opportunity. 'I really appreciate everything that they've done, but now I'm in another chapter in my life with the Yankees, and we're gonna take care of business.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
College World Series winners and losers: The best and worst from Day 5 in Omaha
Day 5 of the 2024 College World Series saw two more teams go home as the semifinal matchups were set. Louisville defeated Oregon State, 7-6, in a nailbiter as the Beavers came back from a three-run deficit in the top of the ninth only to give up the lead in the bottom of the inning. In the nightcap, Arkansas defeated UCLA, 7-3. The Bruins had previously resumed a suspended game against LSU in the morning, losing, 9-5. Advertisement In the semifinals beginning June 18, Arkansas will face LSU and Coastal Carolina will face Louisville. The Tigers and Chanticleers need only a single win, while the Razorbacks and Cardinals must win twice to advance to the championship series. Here are the winners and losers: WINNERS Home runs (finally) After the early games in Omaha saw very few home runs hit, the long ball made more of an impact on Day 5. LSU's Jared Jones hit a three-run homer that ultimately proved the game-winner in its game against UCLA (although the home run technically took place the night before, prior to the game being suspended due to rain). In the elimination game between Louisville and Oregon State, the Cardinals and Beavers hit two home runs apiece. Then, in the nightcap between Arkansas and UCLA, the Razorbacks got on the board with a two-run homer from Wehiwa Aloy. Advertisement After six total home runs in the first eight games, Day 5 featured five home runs. The SEC The SEC has had at least one team in every Men's College World Series final since 2016, and four of the last seven championship series have featured two SEC teams (not including 2022, when now-SEC member Oklahoma participated as a member of the Big 12). But the league has had a rough postseason. Despite qualifying 13 teams to the tournament, just four of those teams made a super regional, and two of those teams (Arkansas and Tennessee) played each other. Two SEC teams made it to Omaha, but because they were on the same side of the bracket, it was guaranteed that at least one non-SEC team would get a shot at a championship. Advertisement But now, the SEC is guaranteed to have a team opposite Louisville or Coastal Carolina with LSU and Arkansas in the semifinal. The league has a good shot of having its sixth straight champion. Wehiwa Aloy The SEC Player of the Year had a quiet Omaha so far. But facing a fellow star shortstop in Roch Cholowsky, Aloy had a strong outing in the elimination game, going 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBIs. He hit a two-run home run to the opposite field in the first inning, showing off the power that has him ranked as a top MLB draft prospect. LOSERS Defense (again) Of 15 errors committed in the College World Series so far, eight of them were by Oregon State. That cost the Beavers dearly, as it was an error on a sacrifice bunt that set up the eventual walk-off sacrifice fly that eliminated them. Advertisement But Oregon State was only in the game at that point because of an error. In the top of the ninth inning, the Beavers were down two runs with the bases loaded and one out when Louisville shortstop Alex Alicea booted a routine double-play ball. The error allowed two runs to score. In the ninth inning of the Arkansas-UCLA game, the Razorbacks committed two errors, both of which led to runs scoring. The West Coast When the Pac-12 still existed, it had been over three decades since three of the league's teams had all made it to Omaha. In the first season after the league's dissolution, three former Pac-12 teams made it in Arizona, Oregon State and UCLA. Advertisement But none of those three teams will make it to the semifinals. Arizona was the first team eliminated, failing to win a game in Omaha. Oregon State and UCLA were both eliminated on Day 5. "A lot of good players in the West, a lot of good coaches on the West. I think it has a bright future," UCLA coach John Savage said. "Bright future is maybe not the right word, because you look at the national championships and you look at the history of Omaha and West Coast teams. But things have changed. Everybody knows things have changed in terms of the facilities and the power. And the SEC clearly had a huge day, right, with Arkansas and LSU. But at the same time, you know, I think we can certainly build off this." Gage Wood: How Arkansas baseball, Murray State reacted to Gage Wood's College World Series no-hitter Gage Wood Gage Wood was the biggest winner from Day 4 as his 19-strikeout no-hitter against Murray State made headlines. But just a day later, Wood forgot his jersey at the hotel, forcing him to wear Zach Root's windbreaker. Advertisement "We teach our kids to be honest around here," Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn quipped when Root admitted the reason for the windbreaker. Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@ or on X @aria_gerson. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winners and losers from Day 5 of College World Series in Omaha
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
College World Series predictions, picks for Day 6: Semifinals set
OMAHA, NE ― The semifinals of the 2025 Men's College World Series get underway Wednesday, June 18. Coastal Carolina will take on Louisville (2 p.m. ET) and LSU will face Arkansas (7 p.m. ET) at Charles Schwab Field to close out the double-elimination bracket. The Chanticleers and Tigers need just one win, while the Cardinals and Razorbacks need to win twice. Advertisement On Day 5, Louisville defeated Oregon State, 7-6, and Arkansas defeated UCLA, 7-3. The two bracket winners will face off in a best-of-three championship series for the national title. Here are our predictions: Louisville vs Coastal Carolina prediction Coastal Carolina 4, Louisville 2 — Coastal Carolina hasn't hit a single home run in Omaha, the only team still left to say so. But the Chanticleers have won with pitching and defense, and they're set up to be able to return Riley Eikhoff for the semifinals after a short start in Game 1. Louisville has had several incredible comebacks in Omaha, but the Cardinals are low on reliable pitching and its defense has left a bit to be desired. Advertisement MORE ON ARKANSAS: With loss in College World Series, Dave Van Horn and Arkansas facing another postseason heartbreak Arkansas vs LSU prediction Arkansas 7, LSU 5 ― Arkansas will have its back against the wall playing its third straight elimination game. But LSU will likely be without Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson and Casan Evans for this game after a rain delay forced the Tigers to pull Eyanson early from his start. The Razorbacks have more to play for in this one and their offense finally started to come alive against UCLA. Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@ or on X @aria_gerson. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College World Series picks, predictions for Day 6 in Omaha
