The Cincinnati Reds were dealt an unfortunate injury to Chase Burns.
Terry Francona Announces Chase Burns News as Reds Face Season-Ending Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Rookie starting pitcher Chase Burns' injury has put the Cincinnati Reds in quite the predicament. The Reds have been on the rise as they currently sit just half a game out of the last Wild Card spot.
If it wasn't an uphill battle already, it sure is now. The 22-year-old stormed his way through the minor leagues. After being selected No. 2 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, he struck out 89 batters in 66 innings this season in the minors before earning his spot on the Reds roster.
A right flexor strain is the reason for Burns' move to the 15-Day IL on Friday. Joe La Sorsa was recalled in the process. With Cincinnati's playoff hopes still alive, the team has a massive decision to make upon the rookie's return.
Chase Burns Could Be Shut Down for the Season
After throwing 66 innings in the minors, the Reds were able to get 34.1 innings out of Burns at the MLB level. Sitting at 100.1 innings, that tops his career high. Burns set that mark at Wake Forest last season, pitching 100 innings.
With one and a half months remaining in the season, Cincinnati has a decision to make.
MLB.com's Mark Sheldon revealed the Reds were already exploring ways to handle Burns' workload prior to this injury.
"The club had been contemplating the role he might have the rest of the season," he wrote. "It wanted him to finish the season pitching in the big leagues, but the bullpen was viewed as the best way to curtail his innings load."
With this backdrop and Friday's news, it could make sense to shut Burns down for the year. Obviously, the team will re-evaluate once he's back to 100% to see where they stand in the postseason race.
Having not made the playoffs since 2020, this is a huge year for the Reds. Stuck in the always competitive NL Central, the Reds have only made the playoffs once going back to 2014.
The #Reds today announced the following transactions: pic.twitter.com/vTiGn15rlC
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 15, 2025
A move to the bullpen would've allowed Cincinnati to trim down the 6'3'' pitcher's innings. Burns has gone six innings twice in his eight MLB starts. He's pitched 4.2 innings or more in six of those eight.
As speculation about the remainder of Burns' season was mounting, manager Terry Francona provided an update.
Terry Francona Reveals Chase Burns Update
Reds fans can breathe again. Francona told reporters via Charlie Clifford of NBC 5 Cincinnati Sports that Burns' MRI results were in, and it seems as the starting pitcher has avoided serious injury.
That said, he will miss at least two weeks.
Terry Francona says “best case” it will only be the couple weeks on the IL for Chase Burns who could start throwing again later this week.
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) August 15, 2025
Burns was slated to come out of the pen Wednesday, but that was nixed pregame when he reported significant shoulder stiffness. After MRI…
The update reports that Burns could start throwing again as soon as later this week. Knowing that he went on the 15-Day IL, the Reds are going to ease him back into action. If they keep winning at the rate they are, there's no reason to believe the team won't want him back for the remainder of the season.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
