Chase Burns Rockets to Reds Debut, Alcántara Back to Ace Form, and Cal Raleigh’s Home Run Revolution
Just 11 months after being drafted No. 2 overall, Chase Burns is set to make his Major League debut for the Cincinnati Reds against the New York Yankees on Tuesday. It’s a meteoric rise for the 22-year-old right-hander, who’s made only 66 innings worth of professional appearances all of them dominant.
Burns’ numbers in the minors? A staggering 89 strikeouts to just 13 walks with only 38 hits allowed. But it’s not just the results it’s how he’s doing it. Burns throws the hardest four-seam fastball among high-release-point pitchers in professional baseball (97.8 mph, 6.61 ft vertical release), drawing comparisons to prime Justin Verlander.
While Verlander had a smoother delivery, Burns makes up for his higher arm angle with pure power and spin, complemented by a wipeout slider. His unique arm slot and velocity give him immediate “ace upside,” and with Hunter Greene and Wade Miley sidelined, the Reds have cracked open the door for Burns to potentially walk through as a foundational piece of their rotation.
Sandy Alcántara Heating Up Ahead of Trade Deadline
Elsewhere in the National League, Sandy Alcántara has re-emerged as a top trade target. The Marlins ace struggled to regain command post-Tommy John surgery, posting an 8.47 ERA through his first 11 starts. But in June, he’s turned the corner boasting a 2.74 ERA and increasing his strike rate to 67.4%.
A key change? Increased usage of his breaking pitches, jumping from 26.2% in the first two months to 39.1% in June. Opponents are hitting just .148 against those pitches this month. As a result, Alcántara is once again flashing his Cy Young-caliber upside, just in time for the deadline and for contender interest to skyrocket.
Cal Raleigh: MLB’s Outer-Half Power King
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has become MLB’s breakout slugger of 2025. A subtle adjustment moving closer to the plate has unlocked prodigious pull-side power, even on outside pitches. His 19 home runs on outer half offerings lead the league, ahead of Corbin Carroll and Aaron Judge (16 each).
By crowding the plate, Raleigh turns the outside corner into his personal launch zone and it’s working. Among MLB switch-hitters, Raleigh now owns the most homers in a single season from pitches on the outer half since Barry Bonds-style plate adjustments became trendy.
Hidden Bullpen Gem: Mike Soroka
Don’t be fooled by the 5.06 ERA: Nationals starter Mike Soroka may be baseball’s best-kept bullpen secret. His new go-to weapon a 2,900 RPM slurve with 50 inches of drop has held opponents to a .033 average in June (1-for-30).
Soroka’s velocity is also up, touching 97.3 mph in recent outings. He’s holding hitters to a .155 batting average the first time through the lineup and .165 over his first 50 pitches. As a one-time All-Star who has reinvented his pitch mix post-injury, Soroka could be this summer’s Luke Weaver-style multi-inning bullpen revelation — and a steal at $9M.
Quick Hits:
- First-Year Pitching Dominance: Pitching prospects like Jacob Misiorowski, Logan Henderson, and Mick Abel continue to shine in their rookie campaigns. In contrast, first-year hitters are struggling, with only two (Cam Smith, Kristian Campbell) reaching qualification marks and Campbell already back in the minors.
- Cincinnati’s Core Is Legit: With Burns, Chase Petty (22), Rhett Lowder (23), Hunter Greene (25), Andrew Abbott (26), and Nick Lodolo (27), the Reds might have assembled one of MLB’s most exciting young rotations giving Terry Francona and Derek Johnson a formidable pitching future.
