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New York Times
28-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Reds find themselves in the thick of the race at the trade deadline
CINCINNATI — Up until the All-Star break, the Cincinnati Reds were never more than four games above .500, nor more than four games under .500. They won the first two games after the break to put them at 52-47 before losing their next three. But Sunday's 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays put them a season-best six games over .500 at 56-50. Advertisement Entering the week of the trade deadline, the Reds have moved from a team that was on the periphery of contention to fully in contention, just one game behind the San Diego Padres for the third spot in the National League wild-card race. The Arizona Diamondbacks, 51-55, have already started selling, and the floundering St. Louis Cardinals have gone 3-7 since the break and could begin selling off their assets. That leaves the Reds in a prime position to try to improve their roster at the deadline. 'Wins at any time of the year are super important, but especially right now when decisions are being made,' Reds closer Emilio Pagán said after recording his 22nd save of the season Sunday. 'Some of the conversations I've had with (general manager) Brad (Meador) and (president of baseball operations) Nick (Krall), they're just as pumped as we are. They want to do something special here, too. This has been building now for a few years. I think the city and the organization is aware of that. We didn't do what we wanted to last year, but we're playing good baseball right now, and hopefully we can put ourselves in a spot to do something pretty cool.' The Reds expect starter Hunter Greene to return next month, which could help bolster a starting rotation that has been good of late. Right-hander Brady Singer added to the recent run of strong pitching performances Sunday against the Rays, allowing a run on three hits in 7 1/3 innings to improve to 8-8 on the season. Singer was one of the players with playoff experience that Krall and Meador brought in this past offseason, along with catcher Jose Trevino, outfielder Austin Hays and infielder/outfielder Gavin Lux. They also hired Terry Francona as manager. His resume includes three pennants and two World Series championships. 'We have a group of guys that are looking to make a push in the playoffs,' Singer said. 'The city deserves the playoffs as well.' Your Cincinnati Reds have won 10 of the last 14‼️#ATOBTTR — Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 27, 2025 The Reds haven't made the playoffs since 2020, haven't made the playoffs in a full season since 2013 and haven't had a home playoff game since 2012. They haven't advanced in the postseason since 1995, and their last World Series title came in 1990. Only one player on the team was born when the Reds last won a World Series. Starter Nick Martinez was born Aug. 5, 1990, just months before the Reds swept the Athletics for the franchise's fifth title. Advertisement As far as deadline needs, the two things the Reds need the most are a power bat, preferably right-handed, and at least one more bullpen arm. Where will those come from? It's tough to say. It's unlikely Krall would mortgage the franchise's future to take a chance on this year's team, but he'll need to do more than the last time the team was in this position, 2023, when the biggest addition was lefty reliever Sam Moll. Though the Reds play their home games in one of the best home-run ballparks in the game, they rank 20th in total homers this season with 109. The Reds' slugging percentage of .393 ranks 18th in baseball. Francona has leaned heavily on the bullpen pieces he has, with Tony Santillan tied for the big-league lead with 51 appearances this season, including all three games against the Rays, and Scott Barlow's 49 appearances tied for seventh. Pagán also threw in all three games against the Rays. Francona has said he'll never publicly discuss team needs because that would be telling his current players that he doesn't think they're good enough. He has been the beneficiary of deadline deals before, however. In 2004, Francona was in his first year with the Boston Red Sox when the team dealt franchise icon Nomar Garciaparra to the Chicago Cubs and got shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Montreal Expos and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz from the Minnesota Twins. Those two played large roles in the franchise's run to its first title since 1918. In 2016, Francona's Cleveland squad added left-handed reliever Andrew Miller from the New York Yankees. Miller won the MVP of the American League Championship Series and set a record for the most consecutive scoreless innings by a reliever, with 15. He also struck out a record 29 batters in that postseason. So, although the Reds like what they have in the clubhouse, upgrades can pay big dividends. Advertisement In hockey, there's a 'Gordie Howe hat trick,' which consists of a goal, an assist and a fight, three things the Hall of Famer was known for. In Friday's game against the Rays, Reds center fielder TJ Friedl had a bunt single and a home run, the sixth time in his career he has done both in a game. How 'bout stealing a couple runs, @RedsCowboy? @TjFriedl1 — Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 26, 2025 So, what would make a Friedl hat trick? 'I don't know, maybe robbing a homer,' said Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, who has played most of his professional career with Friedl. The home run was Friedl's 10th of the season and the 50th of his career. The bunt hit, in the fourth inning, was his big-league-leading eighth of the season and the 34th of his career. In 2023, Friedl had 17 bunt hits and 18 home runs. Francona said sometimes a bunt can help get a player going, as it did for Friedl. 'He wasn't feeling good swinging the bat,' Francona said of Friedl's performance Friday. 'But he found a way to be productive, got a bunt down and kept the line moving. And they can say what they want, you can talk numbers all you want, but mentally, it's like when a basketball player shoots a layup early, because then you start to feel it. I think there's something to that.' Heading into Monday's 5 p.m. ET deadline for MLB Draft picks to sign, the Reds have inked 17 of their 20 picks from this month's draft to contracts, all but three high school players who were the team's final three picks. The unsigned picks are shortstop Ethan Moore from Illinois, RHP Myles Upchurch from Washington, D.C., and catcher Leamsi Montanez from Puerto Rico. Moore, a switch hitter, has committed to the University of Tennessee, where the Reds' top pick, shortstop Steele Hall, had committed before signing with the Reds. Upchurch, a 6-foot-4 pitcher, signed with the University of Alabama. Montanez, a left-handed hitter, is uncommitted. Advertisement After a disappointing series loss on the road to the Washington Nationals, the Reds rebounded to sweep the Tampa Bay Rays at home, finishing the week 4-2. It was their fifth series sweep of the season. Since May 15, the Reds have the fifth-best record in baseball, at 36-26, but just the third-best record in the National League Central behind the Milwaukee Brewers (40-20) and Cubs (36-24). Not only do the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers come to town for three games beginning Monday (with Shohei Ohtani starting opposite Nick Martinez on Wednesday), but the trade deadline is also Thursday at 6 p.m., with the Reds beginning their three-game series against the Atlanta Braves at 7:10 p.m. After a rare Friday day game, the Reds will head to Bristol, Tenn., to take on the Braves at Bristol Motor Speedway in the Speedway Classic. • RHP Hunter Greene (right groin strain) is scheduled to make a start for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday in Omaha, Neb. He is scheduled to throw 55 pitches and then pitch again Saturday. • RHP Ian Gibaut (right shoulder impingement) has begun playing catch and is scheduled to throw a bullpen later this week. • LHP Wade Miley (left flexor strain) has extended his throwing to 120 feet and is scheduled to throw a bullpen Friday. • RHP Carson Spiers (right shoulder impingement) will miss the rest of the season and have elbow surgery soon, although the date has yet to be determined. • Triple-A Louisville (45-57): 3B Sal Stewart went 4-for-4 with two homers and a double (11 total bases) and scored three times Saturday. In nine games at Triple A, he has gone 10-for-36 (.278) with three homers. OF Héctor Rodríguez, who was promoted at the same time, is 14-for-34 (.411) with a home run and four doubles since being called up to the Bats. Rodríguez also has more walks (seven) than strikeouts (five) in his first 41 plate appearances, giving him an on-base percentage of .512. Advertisement • Double-A Chattanooga (52-40): RHP Trevor Kuncl, signed as a minor-league free agent from Mexico this past offseason, recorded his 14th save in Sunday's victory. Kuncl, 26, is 2-0 with a 1.09 ERA and has converted 14 of his 15 save opportunities. Over 29 appearances and 33 innings, he has allowed just 22 hits and four earned runs while striking out 31 and walking 12. • High-A Dayton (30-62): In an up-and-down season, RHP Luke Hayden had nearly identical back-to-back starts, including Friday's start against South Bend, when he allowed a run on two hits in 5 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts and four walks. In his previous start, July 18 against Great Lakes, he gave up a run on two hits in five innings with three strikeouts and three walks. Hayden combined to throw just four innings in his first two starts of the month, allowing eight runs, including five on six walks on July 3 against Lake County. Overall, he's 2-5 with a 4.09 ERA, but batters are hitting just .204 against him. However, he has 51 walks and 61 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings. • Class-A Daytona (43-50 before Sunday night's game): 3B Alfredo Alcantara made his Class-A debut Friday after being promoted from the Arizona Complex League. Alcantara, 19, had a pair of hits in each of his first two games with the Tortugas, including a double, a home run and three RBIs on Saturday. In Arizona, he hit .315/.444/.443 with two homers, 33 walks and 44 strikeouts in 44 games and 189 plate appearances. (Photo of Brady Singer: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)
New York Times
28-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
C. Notes: Reds find themselves in the thick of the race at the trade deadline
CINCINNATI — Up until the All-Star break, the Cincinnati Reds were never more than four games above .500, nor more than four games under .500. They won the first two games after the break to put them at 52-47 before losing their next three. But Sunday's 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays put them a season-best six games over .500 at 56-50. Advertisement Entering the week of the trade deadline, the Reds have moved from a team that was on the periphery of contention to fully in contention, just one game behind the San Diego Padres for the third spot in the National League wild-card race. The Arizona Diamondbacks, 51-55, have already started selling, and the floundering St. Louis Cardinals have gone 3-7 since the break and could begin selling off their assets. That leaves the Reds in a prime position to try to improve their roster at the deadline. 'Wins at any time of the year are super important, but especially right now when decisions are being made,' Reds closer Emilio Pagán said after recording his 22nd save of the season Sunday. 'Some of the conversations I've had with (general manager) Brad (Meador) and (president of baseball operations) Nick (Krall), they're just as pumped as we are. They want to do something special here, too. This has been building now for a few years. I think the city and the organization is aware of that. We didn't do what we wanted to last year, but we're playing good baseball right now, and hopefully we can put ourselves in a spot to do something pretty cool.' The Reds expect starter Hunter Greene to return next month, which could help bolster a starting rotation that has been good of late. Right-hander Brady Singer added to the recent run of strong pitching performances Sunday against the Rays, allowing a run on three hits in 7 1/3 innings to improve to 8-8 on the season. Singer was one of the players with playoff experience that Krall and Meador brought in this past offseason, along with catcher Jose Trevino, outfielder Austin Hays and infielder/outfielder Gavin Lux. They also hired Terry Francona as manager. His resume includes three pennants and two World Series championships. 'We have a group of guys that are looking to make a push in the playoffs,' Singer said. 'The city deserves the playoffs as well.' Your Cincinnati Reds have won 10 of the last 14‼️#ATOBTTR — Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 27, 2025 The Reds haven't made the playoffs since 2020, haven't made the playoffs in a full season since 2013 and haven't had a home playoff game since 2012. They haven't advanced in the postseason since 1995, and their last World Series title came in 1990. Only one player on the team was born when the Reds last won a World Series. Starter Nick Martinez was born Aug. 5, 1990, just months before the Reds swept the Athletics for the franchise's fifth title. Advertisement As far as deadline needs, the two things the Reds need the most are a power bat, preferably right-handed, and at least one more bullpen arm. Where will those come from? It's tough to say. It's unlikely Krall would mortgage the franchise's future to take a chance on this year's team, but he'll need to do more than the last time the team was in this position, 2023, when the biggest addition was lefty reliever Sam Moll. Though the Reds play their home games in one of the best home-run ballparks in the game, they rank 20th in total homers this season with 109. The Reds' slugging percentage of .393 ranks 18th in baseball. Francona has leaned heavily on the bullpen pieces he has, with Tony Santillan tied for the big-league lead with 51 appearances this season, including all three games against the Rays, and Scott Barlow's 49 appearances tied for seventh. Pagán also threw in all three games against the Rays. Francona has said he'll never publicly discuss team needs because that would be telling his current players that he doesn't think they're good enough. He has been the beneficiary of deadline deals before, however. In 2004, Francona was in his first year with the Boston Red Sox when the team dealt franchise icon Nomar Garciaparra to the Chicago Cubs and got shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Montreal Expos and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz from the Minnesota Twins. Those two played large roles in the franchise's run to its first title since 1918. In 2016, Francona's Cleveland squad added left-handed reliever Andrew Miller from the New York Yankees. Miller won the MVP of the American League Championship Series and set a record for the most consecutive scoreless innings by a reliever, with 15. He also struck out a record 29 batters in that postseason. So, although the Reds like what they have in the clubhouse, upgrades can pay big dividends. Advertisement In hockey, there's a 'Gordie Howe hat trick,' which consists of a goal, an assist and a fight, three things the Hall of Famer was known for. In Friday's game against the Rays, Reds center fielder TJ Friedl had a bunt single and a home run, the sixth time in his career he has done both in a game. How 'bout stealing a couple runs, @RedsCowboy? @TjFriedl1 — Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 26, 2025 So, what would make a Friedl hat trick? 'I don't know, maybe robbing a homer,' said Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, who has played most of his professional career with Friedl. The home run was Friedl's 10th of the season and the 50th of his career. The bunt hit, in the fourth inning, was his big-league-leading eighth of the season and the 34th of his career. In 2023, Friedl had 17 bunt hits and 18 home runs. Francona said sometimes a bunt can help get a player going, as it did for Friedl. 'He wasn't feeling good swinging the bat,' Francona said of Friedl's performance Friday. 'But he found a way to be productive, got a bunt down and kept the line moving. And they can say what they want, you can talk numbers all you want, but mentally, it's like when a basketball player shoots a layup early, because then you start to feel it. I think there's something to that.' Heading into Monday's 5 p.m. ET deadline for MLB Draft picks to sign, the Reds have inked 17 of their 20 picks from this month's draft to contracts, all but three high school players who were the team's final three picks. The unsigned picks are shortstop Ethan Moore from Illinois, RHP Myles Upchurch from Washington, D.C., and catcher Leamsi Montanez from Puerto Rico. Moore, a switch hitter, has committed to the University of Tennessee, where the Reds' top pick, shortstop Steele Hall, had committed before signing with the Reds. Upchurch, a 6-foot-4 pitcher, signed with the University of Alabama. Montanez, a left-handed hitter, is uncommitted. Advertisement After a disappointing series loss on the road to the Washington Nationals, the Reds rebounded to sweep the Tampa Bay Rays at home, finishing the week 4-2. It was their fifth series sweep of the season. Since May 15, the Reds have the fifth-best record in baseball, at 36-26, but just the third-best record in the National League Central behind the Milwaukee Brewers (40-20) and Cubs (36-24). Not only do the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers come to town for three games beginning Monday (with Shohei Ohtani starting opposite Nick Martinez on Wednesday), but the trade deadline is also Thursday at 6 p.m., with the Reds beginning their three-game series against the Atlanta Braves at 7:10 p.m. After a rare Friday day game, the Reds will head to Bristol, Tenn., to take on the Braves at Bristol Motor Speedway in the Speedway Classic. • RHP Hunter Greene (right groin strain) is scheduled to make a start for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday in Omaha, Neb. He is scheduled to throw 55 pitches and then pitch again Saturday. • RHP Ian Gibaut (right shoulder impingement) has begun playing catch and is scheduled to throw a bullpen later this week. • LHP Wade Miley (left flexor strain) has extended his throwing to 120 feet and is scheduled to throw a bullpen Friday. • RHP Carson Spiers (right shoulder impingement) will miss the rest of the season and have elbow surgery soon, although the date has yet to be determined. • Triple-A Louisville (45-57): 3B Sal Stewart went 4-for-4 with two homers and a double (11 total bases) and scored three times Saturday. In nine games at Triple A, he has gone 10-for-36 (.278) with three homers. OF Héctor Rodríguez, who was promoted at the same time, is 14-for-34 (.411) with a home run and four doubles since being called up to the Bats. Rodríguez also has more walks (seven) than strikeouts (five) in his first 41 plate appearances, giving him an on-base percentage of .512. Advertisement • Double-A Chattanooga (52-40): RHP Trevor Kuncl, signed as a minor-league free agent from Mexico this past offseason, recorded his 14th save in Sunday's victory. Kuncl, 26, is 2-0 with a 1.09 ERA and has converted 14 of his 15 save opportunities. Over 29 appearances and 33 innings, he has allowed just 22 hits and four earned runs while striking out 31 and walking 12. • High-A Dayton (30-62): In an up-and-down season, RHP Luke Hayden had nearly identical back-to-back starts, including Friday's start against South Bend, when he allowed a run on two hits in 5 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts and four walks. In his previous start, July 18 against Great Lakes, he gave up a run on two hits in five innings with three strikeouts and three walks. Hayden combined to throw just four innings in his first two starts of the month, allowing eight runs, including five on six walks on July 3 against Lake County. Overall, he's 2-5 with a 4.09 ERA, but batters are hitting just .204 against him. However, he has 51 walks and 61 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings. • Class-A Daytona (43-50 before Sunday night's game): 3B Alfredo Alcantara made his Class-A debut Friday after being promoted from the Arizona Complex League. Alcantara, 19, had a pair of hits in each of his first two games with the Tortugas, including a double, a home run and three RBIs on Saturday. In Arizona, he hit .315/.444/.443 with two homers, 33 walks and 44 strikeouts in 44 games and 189 plate appearances. (Photo of Brady Singer: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)
Reuters
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Brady Singer tosses gem to secure Reds sweep of Rays
July 27 - Brady Singer bounced back from one of his worst outings of the season by allowing just one run in 7 1/3 innings as the Cincinnati Reds completed a three-game series sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays, 2-1, Sunday in Cincinnati. The Reds have followed up a three-game skid with a four-game winning streak and improved to 6-3 since the All-Star break, with Thursday's trade deadline looming. Cincinnati also improved to 56-50, a season-high six games over .500. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, lost its seventh straight on the road and has won just three of 16 on the road since a sweep of Kansas City June 24-26. Overall, the Rays have lost 18 of 25 since June 27. Singer (8-8) allowed just one run and three hits over 7 1/3 innings, six days after allowing seven runs over 2 1/3 innings last Monday in a 10-8 loss to Washington. Throwing for a third consecutive day, Emilio Pagan pitched a scoreless ninth for his 22nd save. The game didn't start smoothly for Singer, who allowed a leadoff single to Chandler Simpson and hit the second batter Yandy Diaz with a pitch. But catcher Jose Trevino threw out Simpson trying to steal second to help Singer get out of further trouble. Singer retired the next six batters before hitting Matt Thaiss with one out in the third. Singer lost his shutout with one out in the eighth when Taylor Walls belted a first-pitch breaking ball to the seats in right for his fourth homer, cutting Cincinnati's lead to 2-1. It was Walls' error on Saturday night that opened the door for Cincinnati's first two runs in a 6-2 Cincinnati victory. The frustration continued Sunday in the first inning when he could not field a chopper over the mound from Austin Hays cleanly, allowing TJ Friedl to score from second base. Gavin Lux followed with a chopper that first baseman Jonathan Aranda fielded, but he couldn't throw out Matt McLain at the plate. Instead Aranda threw onto first for an RBI groundout and it was 2-0 Cincinnati. It was a tough luck start for right hander Shane Baz (8-7), who threw four shutout innings after the two-run first. Baz allowed just those two runs and five hits over five innings, striking out five and walking two. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Terry Francona wins 2,000th game as manager, Reds go to All-Star break on a high
The Cincinnati Reds' final game ahead of the All-Star break saw history made at Great American Ball Park. The Reds' 4-2 victory against the Colorado Rockies saw Cincinnati's Terry Francona earn the 2,000th victory of his managerial career before a crowd of 24,541 on Sunday, July 13. Francona burnished his career resume as he became the 13th manager in MLB history to reach the 2,000-win threshold. Reds starting rotation Nick Lodolo Here's how the Reds' pitching rotation will look coming out of the MLB All-Star break "Some of those names up there are like baseball royalty," Francona said. "I'm the − if there's an adjective for 'baseball lifer,' it's me. I'm not overly smart. I'm a second-semester freshman at Arizona still. I love the game, probably too much, and I hope, I hope I treat the players like you're supposed to because that's what I always try to do." After the final out, Francona's players hugged him as they came off the field. Closer Emilio Pagán said he safeguarded the ball used for the final out and then personally ensured Francona received it, partly so that he didn't have the burden of being responsible for the artifact. A short celebration occurred in the Reds' clubhouse immediately following the game, and Francona described his reaction to it as emotional. Later, Reds Principal Owner Bob Castellini was seen in the clubhouse and he entered the off-clubhouse media room to watch Francona's post-game remarks. "It's not often that I get a little choked up and that hit me pretty hard," Francona said. "This is a good place. There's a lot of good people here. This is a good place. Actually, let me amend that. It's a great place." The box score will reflect that Nick Martinez was the winning pitcher for Francona's historic victory. Martinez was well aware. "Very special for me. Got a copy of the lineup card," Martinez said. "It'll be hung up in my house. Yeah, very special for me." Pagán, a player Francona entrusted with much responsibility in 2025, recorded the final out of the milestone. "Wade (Miley) was giving me a hard time," Pagán said. "He was like, 'you know, he's probably going in the Hall of Fame and forever, when they play his 2,000th victory you're gonna be in that highlight.' I didn't think about it like that as I was running in. If I would have, I probably would have been a little more nervous. It's super-cool." Francona insisted afterward he hadn't thought much about his forthcoming 2,000th win, nor had he widely discussed it as it approached, even as some of the biggest figures in and around the game, former players, peers and others prepared for his achievement. "I'm so glad that we won today. I'm telling you, that's the way that I'm built," Francona said. "I wanted us to win so bad today. I wanted us to win so bad yesterday. It's gonna happen again Friday (July 18)." An ordinary, flawed game helped produce Francona's extraordinary feat. For the second day in a row, a Rockies fielding error resulted in the game-winning run for Cincinnati. It was a comeback win, and the Reds need wins of all varieties to buoy their playoff hopes. Ahead of the Rockies series, Francona implored his players to push through the weekend and not cede any of their hard-earned progress up to that point. The Reds dropped the series opener Friday, July 11, but salvaged the last two games to enter the All-Star break on a winning note. The victory also allowed Cincinnati to reach 50 wins by the All-Star break for the first time since 2023. When the Reds resume the regular season following the break, they'll do so with a 50-47 record and as a real player in the race for the postseason. The Reds are only 2 1/2 games back of the San Diego Padres, who own the third National League Wild Card spot. The Chicago Cubs won their 57th game Sunday and are 7 1/2 games ahead of the Reds in the NL Central. "You hopefully play yourself into a position where, when you show up at the ballpark you get a little nervous," Francona said. "Like, that's fun. Like, you've got a little anxiety. To me, that's what this is all about. We've really got to push but I still think our better days are ahead of us and I think it'll be very exciting. "The best way I know how to do better is to win Friday (July 18). That's the best formula." The next time players in Reds uniforms are in action will be in the MLB All-Star Game Tuesday, July 15, as Elly De La Cruz and Andrew Abbott will represent the club at the Atlanta Braves' Truist Park. Cincinnati will pick up regular-season play Friday after the All-Star break with three-game series on the road against the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals. The Reds' next home game at Great American Ball Park is scheduled for July 25. The game that day against Tampa Bay will commence what is officially considered a nine-game homestand against the Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers and Braves. The final game of the Braves series (Saturday, Aug. 2) is the Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. The Reds will be considered the home team fot the game. Cincinnati will then dive into a stretch of games primarily against NL Central opposition. The Reds will travel to the Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field (Aug. 4-6) followed by four games at Pittsburgh's PNC Park (Aug. 7-10). After hosting the Philadelphia Phillies for three games (Aug. 11-13), Cincinnati will welcome the Milwaukee Brewers back to "GABP" for the final time in 2025 (Aug. 15-17). This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Terry Francona wins 2,000th game as manager, Reds to All-Star break on a high
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Just be Chase Burns': Cincinnati Reds' advice for top prospect's MLB debut vs. Yankees
Matt McLain got his first impression of Chase Burns last summer when the Cincinnati Reds drafted the college right-hander No. 2 overall and sent him and other draft picks to Arizona, where McLain was rehabbing an injury. Reds closer Emilio Pagán got his first impression of Burns a few months later during the Reds Caravan. Advertisement It was the same first impression. Reds Cardinals series Andrew Abbott Andrew Abbott shows win-now value of Cincinnati Reds promotion of Chase Burns in another win Reds player moves Chase Burns Cincinnati Reds to call up top prospect Chase Burns to debut Tuesday vs. New York Yankees 'He's a competitor, clearly,' McLain said. So when Burns takes the mound Tuesday, June 24 for his major-league debut and stares down the barrel of Aaron Judge's bat in the first inning of a start against the New York Yankees, the advice from his new big-league teammates is pretty simple: Lean into the fight. And enjoy. 'He pitches with a lot of emotion already anyway,' Pagán said. 'He always pitches kind of toeing that red line, so don't change that. Instead of trying to tone it down and trying to maybe be something you're not, just be you. And just remind him to have fun.' Advertisement Burns has roared through three levels of the minors this season, dominating at each stop with a powerful fastball, two excellent breaking pitches and competitive fire on the mound that looks at times like another gear. The high-octane Yankees at packed, rollicking, bandbox Great American Ball Park? 'That's usually when you get the most out of guys that are like that,' McLain said, 'and enjoy that environment.' Chase Burns, throwing batting practice in February during his first big-league spring training, is scheduled to make his major league debut against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, June 24 at Great American Ball Park. Much like Rhett Lowder, who went from being drafted seventh overall to the big leagues last year in 13 months, Burns was in big-league camp this year in his first pro season, throwing his first professional pitch in his lone inning of work in the Cactus League before heading to minor-league camp to start working on the path that led to Tuesday. Advertisement 'I caught him in spring, and his stuff is legit,' catcher Tyler Stephenson said. 'I'm excited to see what he can do. 'He's got to trust himself that he deserves to be here.' Thirteen starts this year at three levels showed that much as Burns, 22, went 7-3 with a 1.77 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 66 innings. He walked just 13 batters, including just four in eight starts during his stretch at Double-A Chattanooga. 'Obviously, he hasn't done it at the big-league level,' Pagán said, 'but what he's shown up to this point in college and coming through the minor leagues, nothing's really fazed him to this point. Advertisement 'Spending time with him during the Reds Caravan he seemed like an awesome kid, super sure of himself, pretty dialed in on his process and how he goes about his business,' Pagán added. 'All those things are important to leading to success in this league. You put all that together with the stuff he has physically, his natural ability, and it's exciting.' Veterans in the clubhouse say they were impressed with the way Burns handled himself in camp, professionally, with purpose. Like Rhett Lowder, center, Chase Burns was in major league spring training after being drafted the previous June. Burns will make his MLB debut after only 13 starts in the minor leagues. 'What he does is more than enough,' said McLain, who made his own successful debut just two years ago and expects to talk with Burns before Tuesday's start. 'He doesn't need to be anyone other than himself.' Advertisement Veteran pitcher Brady Singer's advice for Baseball America's eighth-ranked prospect in the game as he faces a Yankees team that leads the American League in scoring and home runs: 'Trust your stuff.' 'He's very lucky to have some of the best stuff I've ever seen from a young pitcher,' Singer said. 'So trust yourself in the zone. You don't need to be as perfect as you think you might need to be. Try to treat it like another game that you're pitching, try to not do too much. Calm down and collect yourself and just go to work.' Easier said than done for any player making his debut, especially in that first inning when butterflies and adrenaline rushes are all but inevitable. 'He's worked his whole life to get here,' Pagán said. 'And there's no need to put any added whatever by trying to be something you're not. Just go be Chase Burns. That's been good enough this whole time.' This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds teammates advice for Chase Burns in debut against Yankees
