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2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile

Chase Burns’ 2025 season was a meteoric rise that challenged the boundaries of modern player development. Just eleven weeks after being selected No. 2 overall out of Wake Forest, Burns jumped three minor league levels to make his MLB debut against the Yankees on June 24. He finished his rookie year with an 0-3 record, 4.57 ERA, and 1.32 WHIP, though those surface numbers mask a truly dominant stretch. Between July 11 and August 8, Burns recorded four double-digit strikeout games in a five-start span, showcasing an elite 35.6% strikeout rate that ranked among the best in baseball. His season was interrupted by a right elbow flexor strain in August, but he returned in September as a high-leverage reliever and even made an appearance in the Reds' Wild Card series.

Entering 2026, the 23-year-old fireballer is the heavy favorite to win the No. 5 spot in the Reds' rotation. He arrived in Goodyear with a significantly expanded arsenal, telling reporters his new changeup and curveball are "night and day" compared to last year. Burns backed up the hype in the Reds' spring training opener on February 21, 2026, against the Guardians; while he struggled with command (3 walks), he didn't allow a hit over two scoreless innings and struck out superstar José Ramírez with his signature high-velocity heat. Manager Terry Francona has praised Burns’ "no-fear" mentality, noting that while he's competing with Rhett Lowder, the job is largely his to lose if he maintains his health.

For fantasy managers, Burns is one of the most coveted young arms in the game with an ADP around 119.