Chase Burns doesn’t need much introduction. The 22-year-old right-hander appeared in the Fanggraphs before the Fanggraphs debuted on June 24, and he was not on the way when our Cincinnati Reds’ roster of top prospects was published in early May. 1. After checking in. 28 is generally the 55 fv prospect for the top 100 offseason. Then there is the debut. Baseball’s eyes shrouded him, and the second pick in last year’s draft covered the top five New York Yankees batsmen he faced. The fastball reaches three-digit numbers and the razor slider to expand it, and Burns quickly establishes himself as one of the most promising young arms in the game.
These words say that the explosion of Wake Forest University products are still in progress. Burns only shot 66 innings before receiving the call, and the initial frame was breathtaking, but he quickly learned how challenging it was to face a major league batsman. Not only did the Yankees label him as three innings, he failed to leave the first inning in the second, a game against Fenway Park’s Red Sox.
How did Burns approach his craft, what did he learn, not only through Wake Forest’s pitching program, but also from Cincinnati, and so? After his tough day outing in Boston, I sat down Burns to find out.
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David Laurila: Do you know now when you first graduated from high school?
Chase Burns: “Indeed, it’s a growth process. You’re learning while you’re learning. I’ve learned a lot, including analysis, from high school to college and even now – about how I’m making my stuff better, how to play in the game today.”
Laurila: It’s important to promote analytics and optimize your stuff, but it’s not just about succeeding at this level…
Burns: “Yes. I was lucky to go to Wake Forest where we have the pitching lab, but the pitching coach there, Corey Muscara, kind of talked about that. He talked about you not wanting to go too deep because by the end of the day you have to go there and get it out. That’s the biggest thing.”
Laurila: Do you have any knowledge about pitchers you think you think are particularly important?
Burns: “I think I found out I was more of a north-to-south pitcher than an east-to-west pitcher. I kind of threw the ball in the middle and let my stuff move it intent rather than trying to make such a big sweep to the left and right. I think that helped me a lot.”
Laurila: Until you want to wake the forest until?
Burns: “Yes. When I was in Tennessee [where Burns spent his first two collegiate seasons]I tried to get in and out more stuff, instead of swinging up and down with everything. ”
Laurila: I think you know your pitch metrics?
Burns: “I do. I’m a cyclist and I think my vertical industry is good. [with the fastball]but on average. When I was in Tennessee, the vertical was low and I realized I could get more, so that’s what I followed. Now, I really don’t worry about it too much. I kind of just participate in the profile of riding. I think this is another weapon for me.
“At the moment, a lot of people are chasing vertical and spin speed – something like that – I think that might be a good thing, but at the same time, the damage we’re suffering today can be awful.”
Laurila: The slider is your best secondary pitch. Is this always the case?
Burns: “Yes. Even when I was young, it was the tone I had always had. Over the years, it was just a natural improvement.”
Laurila: You also have a curve ball and swap…
Burns: “Curve ball is what I have since college, but I really don’t have the time to take too much. But, at this level, you’re going to have to use it. It’s still in development, but it’s a weapon for me.
“My change is not very traditional. It’s the kick that everyone is talking about. I’m a backup so I’m having a hard time throwing a change. I started kicking it and had some success.”
Laurila: When did you start throwing kicks?
Burns: “I started kicking it before spring training this year. Some people at WakeForest helped me develop it. I told [the Reds] I’ve been working on it and I throw it a lot and they’re very happy with it. ”
Laurila: Your fastball and slider are plus points, while the other two are not at the same level. How do you get along with the main best weapon when it comes to using the entire track, how do you deal with the usage of pitch?
Burns: “I mean, two pitches at this level can be hard. A batsman can eliminate a ball, which makes them much easier, so fours are big for me. This is something I’ve been working on on the outings lately. My change is a great ball for me, especially left-handed.”
Laurila: You are an electric pitcher. Is this accurate?
Burns: “Yes.”
Laurila: In a perfect world, pitchers are more than just strength. Besides having something annoying, he also knows how to “promote”.
Burns: “I mean, that’s the ultimate goal. When you can match those two together and become a powerful pitcher, but also be able to use the trick – move up and down, in and out, be able to draw corners – that’s what makes the pitcher really dangerous.”
Laurila: From more pitchers to more pitchers is an important evolution. Do you feel like you are turning around?
Burns: “I think that’s the case. Maybe some people disagree with that, but I feel like I’m just someone who’s just trying to put a lot of effort into the guy who actually goes there to pitch. But, like I said before, it’s a growing process.”
