02-04-2025
Reds top prospect Chase Burns to start season in Dayton with Dragons
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – For the second straight year, the Dayton Dragons are getting the Cincinnati Reds' top prospect to begin the Midwest League season.
The No. 2 overall draft pick from 2024, starting right-handed pitcher Chase Burns, will start his professional baseball career with High-A Dayton.
As the No. 25 overall prospect in Major League Baseball, Burns headlines a list of seven Dragons players who are ranked among the Reds' top-30 prospects on the 2025 roster.
It also marks consecutive seasons the Reds' top draft pick is a pitcher out of Wake Forest.
Last year, former Demon Deacon ace Rhett Lowder made his professional debut in the Gem City after being selected No. 7 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft.
After being drafted, Burns spent time at the minor league complex in Arizona and participated in Spring Training for the Reds.
In one preseason appearance, he struck out three batters in a scoreless inning.
During his time at Wake Forest, Burns posted a 10-1 record with a 2.70 ERA while recording 191 strikeouts in 100 innings.
The 22-year-old was named the ACC Pitcher of the Year, a Dick Howser Trophy Finalist, a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist and a First Team All-American by Baseball America as a junior in 2024, in his lone season at Wake Forest.
Burns, who was born in Naples, Italy, transferred to Wake Forest after spending his freshman and sophomore seasons at the University of Tennessee.
In two seasons with the Volunteers, he went 13-5 with a 3.54 ERA and 217 strikeouts across 35 games (22 starts).
The Dragons released their 2025 roster on Tuesday, with 17 players returning who spent time with the club during the 2024 season.
Dayton returns second-year manager Vince Harrison Jr., with the team coming off its first playoff appearance since 2017 and run to the Midwest League Second-Half East Division Championship.
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