PHILADELPHIA − If Chase Burns didn’t consider himself talkative or media-inclined, that probably changed during his first full day attending MLB All-Star Game festivities.
For about 40 minutes, the Cincinnati Reds’ fireballing, first-time All-Star held court with all manner of reporters, influencers and basically anyone with a camera in-hand and a question to blurt out.
Shaded by an umbrella about 10 feet away from Sal Stewart’s own stand for entertaining the credentialed masses, Burns indicated he hoped to be a sponge during at the events tied to the Midsummer Classic following the announcement he wouldn’t pitch in the game itself.
Regarding the tight groin that prompted him to opt out of pitching, Burns said it was progressing.
“It’s good. It’s a lot better,” Burns said. “I don’t have any concerns about it. It’s just more of a precautionary thing.”
Since Burns won’t be pitching, he should have plenty of time to make inroads with the other pitchers, and said he anticipated using the All-Star Game experience to do exactly that.
“I think just any pitcher,” Burns said. “Hearing about their routine and how they go about their business. I always love asking pitchers how their arm feels and stuff like that. Everybody goes through their ups and down during the season, so just how they balance that.”
Burns has plenty of pitchers to choose from, including Padres closer Mason Miller, Milwaukee Brewers two-time All-Star Jacob Misiorowski, 10-time All-Star Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves, Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez, the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and others.
Braxton Ashcraft (Pirates; inactive), Jhoan Duran (Phillies), Foster Griffin (Nationals), former Reds pitcher Raisel Iglesias (Braves), Max Meyer (Marlins), Riley O’Brien (Cardinals; inactive), Eduardo Rodriguez (Diamondbacks; inactive) and the Dodgers’ Justin Wrobleski are all first-time NL All-Star pitchers like Burns.
There’s no need for Burns to be shy among his peers after posting an 11-1 record, 2.54 ERA and 1.11 WHIP ahead of the All-Star Game.
One hurler stands apart from the rest for Burns, who said he hoped to meet the retiring Justin Verlander while the two players share the All-Star Game stage.
Burns said he was compared to Verlander as he climbed the ranks toward MLB. The 43-year-old future Hall of Famer was added to the American League All-Star Game roster as an honorary selection by Commissioner Rob Manfred.
“Verlander. That’s a pitcher that I got compared to coming up, so, seeing him is really cool,” Burns said. “I’ve looked up to him. He’s a legend, so excited to see him out there.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Chase Burns is soaking in the MLB All-Star Game experience
Reporting by Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
