BREAKING: Cincinnati Bengals DE Sam Hubbard Announces Retirement From The NFL | OTB 3.5.25

Watch Off the Bench Presented by UDF with Chatterbox Sports Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. LIVE on the Chatterbox Sports YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE to the channel to ensure you never miss a thing. Chase Burns, the Cincinnati Reds’ highly touted pitching prospect, is set to make his much-anticipated professional debut in a Spring Training game against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest, Burns has quickly become a cornerstone of the Reds’ future plans, boasting a triple-digit fastball and a slider widely regarded as one of the best in the prospect ranks. While this debut won’t be televised, fans can still follow along via Statcast data, offering a glimpse into the 22-year-old’s electric arsenal as he takes the mound for the first time in a Reds uniform. Burns’ journey to this moment has been marked by dominance and deliberate preparation. At Wake Forest, he led college baseball with 191 strikeouts in 100 innings during the 2024 season, earning ACC Pitcher of the Year honors and cementing his status as a top draft talent. His fastball, which can touch 102 mph with exceptional vertical break, pairs devastatingly with a slider that features late, tight movement—attributes that have scouts projecting him as a future ace. After being drafted, the Reds opted to hold him out of minor league action in 2024, instead focusing on instructional league work to ensure he was primed for a full 2025 campaign. This approach mirrors the development path of fellow Wake Forest alum Rhett Lowder, who debuted for the Reds in 2024 just over a year after being drafted. For the Reds, Burns represents a critical piece in their ongoing effort to build a competitive rotation. With young arms like Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Lowder already in the mix, Burns’ arrival could elevate Cincinnati’s pitching staff to elite status. His debut comes at a pivotal time as the Reds aim to rebound from a middling 2024 season and push toward contention under new manager Terry Francona. While Spring Training stats are unofficial, this outing will offer an early look at how Burns’ stuff translates against professional hitters, including those from a Rangers squad featuring starter Tyler Mahle. Though Burns is unlikely to break camp with the big-league club, a strong spring could accelerate his timeline to the majors. Reds fans, eager for a glimpse of their top prospect, will be watching closely as he takes his first step toward what many hope will be a transformative career in Cincinnati.