Reds top draft pick breaks Paul Skenes' signing-bonus record

The Cincinnati Reds signed first-round pick Chase Burns, a right-handed starting pitcher, on Thursday, making him the first prospect from the 2024 class to sign.

It was also reportedly a record-breaking deal for the No. 2 overall pick .

According to ESPN, Burns' contract includes a $9.25 million signing bonus that breaks the previous signing-bonus record that was set by Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes one year ago. Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft, signed for a then-record $9.2 million bonus.

Skenes has rapidly become one of the best starting pitchers in baseball serving as the starting pitcher for the National League in Tuesday's All-Star Game.

Expectations for Burns are not going to be quite as high, but he was the top pitcher available in this year's class and has top-of-the-rotation potential thanks to his 96-to-100 mph fastball. He struck out 191 batters in 100 innings this past season at Wake Forest. He started his college career at Tennessee before transferring.

It is entirely possible that Burns' signing-bonus record will get broken in the coming weeks as the No. 1 overall pick (Cleveland Guardians' Travis Bazzana) and No. 3 overall pick (Colorado Rockies' Charlie Condon) could both set a new mark.