Chase Burns earns first MLB All-Star nod, joins loaded National League pitching staff

The Cincinnati Reds may be well out of the National League Central race entering July, but they still have one of baseball's brightest young stars to celebrate. Just over a year after making his major league debut, Chase Burns has been named an MLB All-Star for the first time in his career, capping one of the most dominant first full seasons by a rookie pitcher in recent memory.

Burns has quickly become the ace of Cincinnati's rotation, and now he'll represent the Reds alongside a National League pitching staff loaded with Cy Young contenders and established stars. For a 23-year-old who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, it's another milestone in what has been a meteoric rise.

Chase Burns' rise has been nothing short of remarkable

Burns' path to the All-Star Game has been remarkably fast. After starring at Tennessee before transferring to Wake Forest, Burns elevated his draft stock with a historic 2024 season that included a school-record 191 strikeouts and ACC Pitcher of the Year honors. The Reds made him the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 MLB Draft, then signed him to a record-setting $9.25 million bonus.

His climb through the minors barely lasted a few months. Burns debuted in June 2025 and immediately grabbed national attention by striking out the first five batters he faced against the Yankees, becoming the first starting pitcher in the Expansion Era to open his MLB career that way.

Now, just one year later, he's an All-Star.

Numbers back up Burns' All-Star selection

Burns has pitched like one of the National League's elite starters throughout the first half of 2026. Entering the All-Star break, the right-hander owns a 10-1 record with a 2.40 ERA across 17 starts. He's struck out 116 batters in 97.2 innings while posting a 1.08 WHIP, ranking among the National League leaders in several major pitching categories.

His combination of an upper-90s fastball and devastating breaking pitches has made him one of the toughest young arms in baseball to square up. Even more impressive, Burns has continued to improve as the season has progressed. Since mid-June, he has picked up wins over the Mets, Yankees, Pirates and Brewers while consistently giving Cincinnati quality starts despite the club's struggles in the standings.

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Burns joins an elite National League All-Star staff

Making an All-Star team is an accomplishment by itself. Doing it as a rookie while joining one of the deepest pitching staffs in baseball makes it even more significant.

Burns will share the National League clubhouse with many of the game's biggest names, giving fans an opportunity to see one of baseball's emerging stars alongside some of its most accomplished veterans. For the Reds, Burns' selection is another reminder that the franchise has found a cornerstone pitcher capable of leading its rotation for years to come.

While Cincinnati's season hasn't unfolded the way the organization envisioned, Burns has provided plenty of optimism for the future. At just 23 years old, his first All-Star appearance feels less like a career peak and more like the beginning of what could become an annual tradition in Cincinnati.

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