The Making of a Record-Breaking Contract
Cincinnati has locked up its 2024 first-round pick in a deal that will keep the right-hander under club control through the 2033 season. The agreement, worth $105 million over seven years, marks the largest contract ever handed to a pitcher with fewer than four years of major-league service.
Burns arrives after a two-year stint at Tennessee where he helped the Volunteers capture the 2022 SEC Tournament and regular-season titles, and a 2023 College World Series run. At Tennessee he posted a 13-5 record, a 3.54 ERA, 217 strikeouts and two saves in 152.1 innings, establishing himself as one of the nation's most promising arms.
The Reds drafted Burns with the second overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, a move that underscores the club's intent to build a rotation around young, high-upside talent. The extension signals a clear message that the organization is willing to invest heavily in proven collegiate performers before they even reach the big leagues.
Industry analysts view the deal as a potential benchmark for future arbitration-eligible pitchers, reshaping how teams balance risk and reward in the early stages of a career. For Cincinnati, the contract locks in a cornerstone piece of a pitching staff that already features established arms, positioning the club to remain competitive well beyond the current decade.