Former Top Draft Picks Face Off as Reds and Rangers Wrap Series

Cincinnati's Chase Burns and Texas' Jack Leiter, both high draft picks, take the mound in the series finale.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 6:35pm

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The Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers wrap up their series on Sunday, with a matchup between two young pitchers who were high draft picks. Reds right-hander Chase Burns, the 2nd overall pick in 2024, is coming off a strong first start of the season, while Rangers righty Jack Leiter, the 2nd overall pick in 2021, looks to build on his impressive debut last year against Cincinnati.

Why it matters

This matchup features two of the top pitching prospects in baseball, both of whom were highly touted draft selections. Their performances could provide insight into the future of their respective franchises as they aim to develop homegrown talent and build competitive rosters.

The details

Burns, 23, took a no-hitter into the 5th inning in his first start of 2026, going 5 innings with 1 hit, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts in a 2-0 win over the Pirates. Leiter, 25, is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA after beating the Orioles in his first start, impressing with an elite changeup. Leiter faced the Reds last April, allowing just 1 hit over 5 scoreless innings.

  • Chase Burns makes his second start of the 2026 season on Sunday, April 5.
  • Jack Leiter faces the Reds for the second time in his career on Sunday, April 5.

The players

Chase Burns

A 23-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, who was the 2nd overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.

Jack Leiter

A 25-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Texas Rangers, who was the 2nd 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, batting .407.

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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 Sunday, April 5, with Chase Burns and Jack Leiter taking the mound in a matchup of former 2nd overall draft picks.

The takeaway

This pitching duel between two highly touted prospects provides an early-season glimpse into the future of the Reds and Rangers franchises, as they look to develop homegrown talent and build competitive rosters for the long term.