This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato’s Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
WASHINGTON -- Saturday’s opposing pitcher was familiar with more than just the Nationals’ Major League roster. Reds ace Chase Burns was college teammates with Nats No. 4 prospect shortstop Seaver King at Wake Forest.
“He was always a very vocal person, wasn’t afraid to be himself, a great personality, a lot of confidence,” Burns said. “You need that in a leader.”
In 2024, Wake Forest teammates Burns, King and Nick Kurtz made Draft history. The Reds picked Burns No. 2, the A’s selected Kurtz No. 4 and the Nationals chose King No. 10. They became the second trio to be drafted in the top 10 from the same school, the first instance since Philip Humber, Jeff Niemann and Wade Townsend from Rice University in 2004.
“There were just so many moments in college where he fired up the team with a big hit or a big home run,” Burns told MLB.com last month at the All-Star Game.
On the same day his friend Burns started against the Nationals, King hit his sixth home run of the season, a 403-foot shot off Yankees rehabbing lefty Carlos Rodón. He is slashing .274/.354/.446 in 40 games with the Red Wings.
“He's just an all-around athlete,” said Burns. “In the field, he could play a lot of different positions. As a hitter, he's very explosive and [has] speed and power. It’s a combination of a lot of things.”
In his first pro season last year, King advanced from High-A Wilmington to Double-A Harrisburg. He was named to the Arizona Fall League All-Star Game, and he earned an invitation to 2026 Major League Spring Training. King began this season in Double-A. After 35 games, he was promoted to Triple-A Rochester.
During Major League camp, King shared how much he values leadership and the importance of embracing that role as he develops in his career. Burns was not surprised to hear of these standards.
“I think he's just super grateful,” said Burns. “I know his parents, his parents raised him really well. I think that tells a lot about who he is as a person. He's super respectful.”
King is projected by MLB Pipeline to reach the Majors next season. Burns is looking forward to that matchup.
“I texted him saying congratulations [when he got] moved up to Triple-A,” Burns said. “Hopefully, I can face him at the big league level. I’m excited.”