The Cincinnati Reds are gearing up to kick off their spring training schedule this Saturday with a matchup against the Cleveland Guardians in Goodyear, Arizona. Even though the Reds will be playing at their home stadium, they'll technically be the "visiting" team as they share the facility with Cleveland.
For those planning to catch the action, whether live or through updates, one thing's for sure: Chase Burns is set to take the mound. Reds manager Terry Francona confirmed Burns as the starter, with Pat Brennan from the Cincinnati Enquirer breaking the news.
Burns has been putting in some serious work this offseason, focusing on refining his changeup. Historically, it's been his third pitch behind a powerful fastball and a sharp slider. But according to Francona, the changeup has seen significant improvement, turning into a much more effective weapon.
Last year, Burns showcased his skills across multiple levels, from High-A Dayton to the majors with the Reds. In Triple-A and MLB, we got a good look at his pitch selection.
During his brief stint in Triple-A, he threw 22 changeups out of 174 pitches, translating to a 13% usage rate. In Cincinnati, he surpassed the 10% mark just twice, with a peak at 12% against the Nationals.
Interestingly, in a start against Colorado, he didn't throw a single changeup among 95 pitches. His reliance on the pitch dwindled further in relief appearances, including playoff games.
Burns' curveball also saw reduced usage. After throwing 14 curveballs in two Triple-A starts, he only managed 12 in his first five starts with the Reds, and none in his final nine appearances.
Despite these shifts, Burns delivered an impressive 43.1 innings for the Reds last season, striking out 13.9 batters per nine innings. Among pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched, only Mason Miller and Cole Ragans had better strikeout rates. If Burns can integrate an improved changeup into his arsenal this year, he’ll be an even more formidable challenge for hitters already struggling against him.