Chase Burns #81

Selected in the first round (No. 2 overall) of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds out of Wake Forest University... previously selected in 20th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres but did not sign, instead going on to pitch at Tennessee... signed with the Reds on July 18, 2024 and received an MLB-record $9.25 million (slot value = $9,785,000) signing bonus... his record-setting bonus surpassed the $9.2 million received by 2023 No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes... was ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 6 overall Draft prospect and as the top-rated pitcher of the 2024 Draft class... his Draft stock rose in 2024 after he went 10-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 16 starts for Wake Forest, earning ACC Pitcher of the Year honors and a selection as a Golden Spikes Award finalist... Burns led all of college baseball with a Wake Forest single-season record 191 strikeouts in 100 innings in 2024... was born in Naples, Italy but grew up in Hendersonville and Gallatin, Tennessee... played at Station Camp High School before transferring to Beech High School for his senior year... began his college career at Tennessee, where he spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons before transferring as a junior to Wake Forest... at Tennessee, he went 13-5 with a 3.54 ERA in 35 appearances (22 starts), striking out 217 batters in 152 1/3 innings and was named the Freshman Pitcher of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after his first season there... played in the MLB Desert Invitational in 2023... accumulated a long list of awards and honors in 2024 with Wake, when he was named Preseason First Team All-American by Perfect Game, Preseason Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game, and Preseason Second Team All-American by D1 Baseball, was selected as a Dick Howser Trophy Finalist, named a Golden Spikes Semifinalist, named the ACC Pitcher of the Year and selected to the All-ACC First Team… he was also named a First Team All-American by D1 Baseball, Perfect Game, Baseball America, ABCA, and NCBWA and made First Team All-ACC Tournament and First Team All-Region... son of Trinetti and David Burns; he has one older sister, Breanna Burns... his father David played college football at Division II North Greenville College... majored in recreation and sport management at Tennessee...