Reds’ rookie Chase Burns puts up crazy fastball velocity numbers in new role for Cincinnati originally appeared on The Sporting News

The Cincinnati Reds have Chase Burns in a new role for the playoff push down the stretch of September.

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The rookie right-handed pitcher certainly looks up for it.

On Wednesday, Burns pitched two innings out of the bullpen. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless outing.

And maybe most impressively, Burns topped 101 miles per hour five times with his fastball.

Burns pitched the seventh and eighth inning of a key 6-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals to keep Cincinnati hanging around on the edge of the NL Wild Card race.

Brady Singer earned the win for a solid outing, and Graham Ashcraft, Burns and Emilio Pagan got it done out of the bullpen.

Burns had missed time with an injury, so the Reds didn’t have time to stretch him back out. And besides, this is his first professional season after he didn’t pitch in pro ball after being drafted in 2024. There’s no reason to be reckless.

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The Reds can still get a massive contribution from Burns out of the bullpen, where he can amp up his already impressive stuff to an even greater extent.

Opposing hitters certainly won’t like to see Burns jogging in from the ‘pen.

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