Chase Petty’s 2025 season might be one he’d prefer to forget, but the young pitcher is showing signs of a promising turnaround. As one of the Cincinnati Reds' top prospects, Petty faced challenges last year that left fans puzzled. However, his recent performance during MLB’s Spring Breakout is hinting at a resurgence for the 22-year-old.
In Thursday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants’ prospects, Petty delivered a stellar performance, pitching a one-hitter across four innings. The right-hander was electric, striking out six batters without issuing a single walk, and lighting up the radar with a 102 mph fastball in the second inning.
His Spring Breakout stats are impressive:
- 4 innings pitched
- 1 hit allowed
- 0 runs
- 0 walks
- 6 strikeouts
Petty’s ability to throw first-pitch strikes to 9 of 13 batters and achieve a 75% strike rate overall shows a level of precision that’s hard to overlook.
Despite an early exit from Major League camp this spring, and with many assuming he wouldn’t make the Reds’ Opening Day roster, it’s clear Cincinnati will likely need his skills at some point this season. While Thursday’s competition wasn’t Major League level, Petty’s results are hard to dismiss.
Chase Petty, who joined the Reds in 2022 as part of the trade that sent Sonny Gray to the Minnesota Twins, arrived with a reputation as a high-powered pitcher. Over time, he honed his command and control, making last season’s struggles all the more surprising.
From 2022 to 2024, Petty was a standout in the minors, striking out 292 batters over 303 innings with a 3.41 ERA. His strikeout and walk rates were solid, marking him as a rising star.
However, 2025 was a different story. Despite a promising start in the minors that led to a big-league call-up, Petty struggled in the majors and spent much of the year back in Triple-A.
Before his call-up, he posted a 0-2 record with a 3.52 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 23 innings. Post-debut, his record fell to 6-11 with a 7.13 ERA over 89⅔ innings, managing only 75 strikeouts.
As the Reds gear up for a six-man rotation in 2026, Petty seems poised to step in if needed. Fans are hopeful that his Spring Breakout performance is a glimpse of what’s to come, signaling a potential comeback for the young pitcher.