Why Chase Burns Is Skipping the All-Star Game: A Simple Explainer

The Big News

Baseball player Chase Burns will not be playing in this year’s All-Star Game (a special once-a-year game where the best players in the league show off their skills). He made this choice because he hurt a muscle in his leg called his groin.

Here are the quick facts:

• Who: Chase Burns (age 23), a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds.
• What: He is skipping the All-Star Game.
• Where & When: The game is in Philadelphia on July 14 (a Tuesday). The first pitch happens at 8 p.m.
• Why: He has a groin injury and doesn’t want to make it worse.

Important Point: Burns made this decision all by himself! He told his team’s manager (the head coach) that he thought it was the safest choice.

Who is Chase Burns?

Chase Burns is a pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. Think of a pitcher as the player who throws the ball to start each play. This season, he has been super good—so good that he is now considered the team’s "ace." An "ace" is just a simple way to say he is their very best starting pitcher.

Some cool stats about him this year:

• The Reds have won 11 games and lost only 1 in the games he has pitched since March.
• His ERA (Earned Run Average—a score that shows how few runs the other team gets; a lower number is better) is 2.54 across his 18 starts (the 18 games he began pitching in).

How Did the Injury Happen? (Step-by-Step)

Let’s look at exactly how Burns got hurt and what happened next:

1. Wednesday (Game Day): During a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Burns was pitching. In the second inning (a part of the game), a "wild pitch" happened. A wild pitch is when the pitcher throws the ball so wildly that the catcher can’t catch it. Because of this, a Phillies player named Justin Crawford ran to score a point at home plate. Burns ran over to cover home plate (try to get the runner out) and hurt his groin muscle while doing so.
2. Wednesday (After the Hurt): Even though he was in pain, Burns kept pitching for 3 more innings! The Reds won the game 11-5.
3. Thursday: Burns said the muscle just felt "tight" (sore and stiff) because the excitement of the game (adrenaline) had worn off.
4. Friday: Burns told his manager, Terry Francona, about the injury.
5. Saturday: Burns and Francona talked to reporters. Burns decided he would skip the All-Star Game.

Important Point: Burns said "adrenaline got me through it" on Wednesday. Adrenaline is like a natural energy boost your body gives you in exciting or tough moments that can temporarily hide pain!

What Did They Say?

Burns and his coach shared some honest thoughts about the situation.

Coach Francona said on Saturday:

"He just said, ‘I am just worried about doing something I shouldn’t do.’"

Chase Burns explained:

• Skipping his first-ever All-Star appearance was a "tough decision." He knew that if he pitched again this week, he would risk further provoking (making worse) the injury.
• He said: "I am very thankful to be selected and stuff, but I kind of had a tough play at the plate against the Phillies and the groin kind of got tight. I think it’s just a mature decision to prioritize the second half of the season and not mess it up anymore.”

In simple words: He is happy to be chosen as an All-Star, but he would rather rest now so he can play great for the rest of the year without hurting himself more.

What Does This Mean for the Reds?

Since Burns is sitting out, the Cincinnati Reds will have only one player going to the big All-Star showcase.

• That player is Sal Stewart, a "rookie." A rookie is a player in their very first year on the team.
• Sal will be the lone (only) representative of the Reds at the league’s annual showcase of its top talent this year.

Summary

To wrap it all up:

• Chase Burns, a 23-year-old star pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, hurt his groin muscle during a game last Wednesday while covering home plate.
• He kept playing and helped his team win 11-5, but felt sore the next day.
• He told his coach on Friday and decided on his own to skip the All-Star Game on July 14 in Philadelphia to avoid making the injury worse.
• This was a tough call because it was his first time being chosen as an All-Star, but he wants to stay healthy for the rest of the season.
• Because he is out, rookie Sal Stewart will be the only Red at the All-Star Game, which starts at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

FAQ

1. What is a groin injury?
A groin injury is when the muscles in your upper thigh or inner leg get pulled or strained. It can make it hard or painful to run or move suddenly.

2. What is the All-Star Game?
The All-Star Game is a special baseball event held once a year. The very best players from around the league are picked to play in a fun exhibition game. This year it is in Philadelphia on July 14.

3. Why didn’t Chase Burns just play through the pain at the All-Star Game?
He was worried that pitching again so soon would risk further provoking his injury. He called it a "mature decision" to think about the long term (the second half of the season) instead of just one fun game.

4. What does "ERA" mean in baseball?
ERA stands for Earned Run Average. It is a number that tells you how many runs (points) a pitcher lets the other team score on average. A lower ERA means the pitcher is doing a really good job.

5. Who is representing the Reds at the All-Star Game now?
No one is exactly "replacing" Burns on the roster, but fellow Reds player Sal Stewart (a first-year rookie) will now be the only person from the Cincinnati Reds attending the All-Star Game this year.