Chase Burns First Full Camp Will Reveal His Progress

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

Chase Burns had a full experience last season.

He was drafted and threw his first pitch as a professional nearly a year ago. After that he had a fast track experience, touching every rung on the baseball ladder.

performed in several roles and situations.

"I think he handled it like a veteran," Terry Francona said. "He got a lot coming at him last year. He went from A to Double A, to Triple A, to the big leagues. He started. He relieved. He got hurt. I think a full big league camp will do him good. We can't forget that this is his first full big league camp and we won't. There is a lot to like. He has a big arm. He's a good kid. He won't short change you."

He only made one appearance in the Cactus League last season, impressing Francona in that small sample.

Burns struck out eight New York Yankee batters in his first big league game and start. His next start against the Boston Red Sox was a disaster. He lasted only 1/3 inning and gave up five earned runs.

It skewed his statistics with which he finished the season.

The 23-year old made six more starts. He turned in a pair of quality starts of six innings of three runs or fewer, including his last start against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He struck out 10 batters in four of those starts with three in a row. Altogether in those six starts he logged 29 innings and struck out 49 as apposed to 11 walks with a 3.27 ERA.

The six innings against the Pirates on August 8. He sat out a month with a grade one flexor strain on his right elbow. He missed a month and worked out of the bullpen over his last five games. Burns struck out 10 batters in relief over nine innings. He allowed just two earned runs in relief,  finishing the season with an 0-3 record but with a 4.57 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings. 

Burns will compete for the fifth spot in the Reds' starting rotation along with fellow Wake Forest pitcher, Rhett Lowder.