Burns entered his freshman season at Tennessee as a member of the Volunteers' starting rotation.[3][4] He finished the season with a 8-2 record and 2.91 ERA with 103 strikeouts in 81+1⁄3 innings pitched. Burns was named the Freshman Pitcher of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association at the end of the season.[5]
Burns entered his sophomore season as a member of the Volunteers' starting rotation, but was moved to a relief role midway through the season after going 2-3 with a 6.10 ERA as starter.[6] In postseason play, Burns allowed only one run scored and struck out 22 over 16 innings pitched, including throwing six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in a 6-4 win over Stanford in the 2023 Men's College World Series.[7] He finished the season with a 5-3 record and two saves with a 4.25 ERA and 114 strikeouts over 72 innings pitched. After the season, Burns entered the NCAA transfer portal.[8]
The Cincinnati Reds selected Burns in the first round of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft with the second overall pick. On July 18, he signed with the team for $9.25 million, breaking the MLB signing bonus record set by Paul Skenes the year prior.[11] After the draft Burns began working out at the Reds spring training site, Goodyear Ballpark, then was assigned to the Arizona Instructional League.[12] Burns made his professional debut with the Dayton Dragons on April 4, 2025, and swiftly advanced through the Reds minor league system.[12] After three appearances in Single-A, Burns was elevated to the Chattanooga Lookouts. In eight appearances at the Double-A level, Burns added a changeup to his pitch mix. He soon joined the Louisville Bats for two starts.[13][14]
On June 24, 2025, the Reds promoted Burns to the big leagues for the first time.[15] He was the first pitcher of the 2024 draft class to be promoted to the majors.[16][17] He is the sixth Italian-born pitcher in Major League Baseball, and the first since the 2024 season.[18][19] Burns made his debut against the New York Yankees, striking out eight batters, including five in a row to start the game. Burns became the first starting pitcher since at least the Expansion Era (1961) to strike out the first five batters to open a debut.[20] He allowed six hits, three earned runs, and earned a no-decision in his MLB debut.[21] Chase struggled in his second outing giving up 7 runs while getting just one out in a blowout loss to the Boston Red Sox.[22][20][23]
Burns earned his first major league win on March 30, 2026 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching five scoreless innings and allowing one hit with three walks and seven strikeouts.
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