Former No. 2 Overall Draft Picks Face Off as Reds, Rangers Wrap Series

Cincinnati's Chase Burns and Texas' Jack Leiter, both high draft picks, meet for the first time in the series finale.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 1:22pm

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Cincinnati Reds right-hander Chase Burns, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, will make his second start of the season on Sunday against the Texas Rangers. Burns took a no-hitter into the fifth inning in his first outing, a 2-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Rangers will counter with Jack Leiter, the No. 2 overall pick in 2021, who is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA after beating the Baltimore Orioles in his first start of the year.

Why it matters

This matchup of former high draft picks showcases the future of both the Reds and Rangers franchises. Burns and Leiter are seen as key pieces of their teams' long-term plans, and their performances in this game could provide insight into how quickly they are developing at the major league level.

The details

Burns, 23, is looking to build on his strong debut, in which he struck out seven batters over 5 innings. The Reds are hoping he can solidify their rotation and provide a boost to an offense that has struggled early in the season. Leiter, 25, impressed in his first start, relying heavily on an elite changeup to keep hitters off balance. The Rangers are counting on him to anchor their rotation as they try to contend in the AL West.

  • Chase Burns made his first start of the season on April 3, 2026.
  • Jack Leiter made his first start of the season on April 5, 2026, beating the Baltimore Orioles.
  • The Reds and Rangers will wrap up their series on April 10, 2026.

The players

Chase Burns

A 23-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, who selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Jack Leiter

A 25-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Texas Rangers, who selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.

Terry Francona

The manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

Skip Schumaker

The manager of the Texas Rangers.

Sal Stewart

An outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds who is off to a hot start this season.

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What they’re saying

“I have said probably a million times, if he works ahead, and he will get better at it, it gets very exciting. Our plan this spring was to get him in position to make these starts. We want him to make every start and pitch a lot. His future is bright, but I think the present will be OK, too.”

— Terry Francona, Manager, Cincinnati Reds

“The changeup was elite. Righty, lefty didn't really matter. It just seemed like a carryover from his last start last year. And I think this is who he's going to be. You are going to see more of this version of Jack throughout the year.”

— Skip Schumaker, Manager, Texas Rangers

What’s next

The Reds and Rangers will wrap up their series on April 10, 2026, with Chase Burns and Jack Leiter squaring off for the first time.

The takeaway

This matchup between two highly touted young pitchers, both selected with the No. 2 overall pick in their respective drafts, provides an early glimpse into the future of the Reds and Rangers franchises. Their performances could set the tone for the rest of the season and beyond as these teams look to build contending rosters around their top pitching prospects.