Burns' slider looking filthy as he eyes Reds' No. 5 starter spot
This browser does not support the video element.
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- In his second start of Spring Training, fifth starter candidate Chase Burns pitched 2 1/3 innings on Thursday during the Reds’ 11-10 win over the Padres. Burns gave up one earned run, two hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
“Couple of walks, some deep counts early. We let him go back out in the third [inning], which was good," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "He’s falling behind, a couple 2-0, 3-0 [counts]. That’ll change."
Using his slider, especially early on, Burns got eight whiffs out of nine swings. Three of those sliders came in a row to get a first-inning strikeout of Fernando Tatis Jr.
“It’s a pitch I’m really comfortable with. I’m kind of using it for strikes and getting ahead. Then putting people away with it," said Burns, who threw 48 pitches (26 strikes).
The in-development changeup was used by Burns four times. It got one whiff and one called strike.
Unhappy with how he was pulling his fastball in his first outing on Saturday, Burns felt like he made some progress but still had mixed results. After throwing two of them for balls to Rodolfo Durán to open the third inning, Burns threw a third that was slugged for a homer to left field.
“A little bit better," said Burns, who topped out at 99.5 mph. "I know I’ve got good stuff. It’s just being able to harness and control it. Guys are good up here so they’re not going to swing at bad fastballs. But I’m just getting ahead with it and being as smooth as I can.”
Burns, the 2024 No. 2 overall Draft pick who broke into the big leagues last season in electric fashion, is competing against Rhett Lowder, Brandon Williamson and Julian Aguiar for the fifth spot in Cincinnati's rotation.
“I don’t care how old you are, it’s still Spring Training. And guys need reps. The ball is coming out really well," Francona said of Burns.
Friedl starts in left field
Normally a center fielder for the Reds, TJ Friedl started in left field on Thursday so offseason acquisition Dane Myers could start in center field. Friedl, who made a sliding catch of a shallow fly ball on the first play of the game, will still be playing his usual position most of the time during the regular season.
“Myers is such a good center fielder," Francona said. "You try to cover things in Spring Training so when the season happens, you don’t look back and go ‘God dang it, I should have done that in Spring Training.’ So I talked to TJ about it back a little bit. I bet you he’ll play three or four games there this spring, not a lot, but just to cover if we’re facing a certain lefty. TJ still plays but you’ve got Myers, it might make sense to put him there.”
Cowgill out for surgery, Napoli filling in
The Reds will be without first base coach Collin Cowgill for a while after he returned to Cincinnati for a major knee surgery. Cowgill was recently injured in camp and suffered cartilage damage.
“He’s going to miss some time. My guess is he’ll miss less than he’s supposed to because he’s a maniac," Francona said.
Assistant bench coach Mike Napoli is filling in for Cowgill. Napoli has previous experience as a first base coach with the Cubs. Baserunning work has been a camp priority and Cowgill is a big part of baserunning planning and strategy.
“We appreciate it. In my opinion, the days of the first-base coach grabbing your equipment [after reaching safely], that’s over," Francona said. "It’s too important, especially for teams that value baserunning so Nap did it [and] is going to do it for us, which we appreciate a lot.
“It’s something important and I think we’re sending the wrong message if we just put somebody out there.”