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MLB Speedway Classic to feature starting pitchers with Knoxville ties
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- MLB Speedway Classic to feature starting pitchers with Knoxville ties
Two pitchers with ties to Knoxville are projected to start in the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic on Saturday. Atlanta will face Cincinnati at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. First pitch between the Braves and Reds is slated for 7:15 p.m. EDT and will be televised by Fox.
Former Vol Chase Burns (0-3) is projected to start for the Reds.
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He played at Tennessee from 2022-23 before transferring to Wake Forest in 2024. He was selected No. 2 overall in the first round of the 2024 MLB draft by Cincinnati.
Burns made his MLB debut on June 24 versus the Yankees . He became the 11th former Vol from the Tony Vitello era to play in Major League Baseball, joining Garrett Crochet , Chase Silseth , Ben Joyce , Andre Lipcius , Trey Lipscomb , Jordan Beck , Seth Halvorsen , Chase Dollander , Blade Tidwell , and Christian Moore .
Spencer Strider (5-8) is also projected to start in the MLB Speedway Classic for the Braves .
The right-handed pitcher went to Christian Academy of Knoxville before playing collegiately at Clemson from 2018-20. He won a state championship during his senior season at CAK under head coach Tommy Pharr .
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On June 14 against Colorado , Strider also faced a former Vol starting pitcher Chase Dollander at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia.
More: Atlanta-Colorado MLB game features two starting pitchers with Knoxville ties
More: Chase Burns pitches shutout in return to Knoxville
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Pitchers with Knoxville ties to start in 2025 MLB Speedway Classic
