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Corbin Burnes of the Arizona Diamondbacks
After signing a six-year, $210 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks before the 2025 season, Corbin Burnes was able to pitch just 64.1 innings over 11 starts before going down with Tommy John Surgery. TJS is one of the longer injuries to rehab in baseball, as it requires reconstruction on the elbow ligaments, so Burnes certainly won’t open the year on the Diamondbacks 40-man roster.
According to Burnes himself, the four-time All-Star and 2021 Cy Young winner recently provided an update on when he’s aiming to return to the mound. In fact, the Diamondbacks will likely move Burnes to the 60-day IL once spring training opens up to give the team more roster flexibility.
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When Is Corbin Burnes Aiming to Return to Pitch?
Kyle Odegard of Sportscasting.com recently got an exclusive interview with Corbin Burnes, and Burnes provided an updated injury timeline for when he may return:
GettyCorbin Burnes of the Arizona Diamondbacks
“We put an aggressive timeline on it from the get-go,” Burnes said. “We were looking at the 12½, 13-month mark. We’re still on pace with that. I do whatever I can to make it shorter every day. The training staff does a great job of keeping me on track and making sure I don’t push myself too hard. Everything has been good. Anytime I can try to sneak it ahead a little I will, but to this point, still on pace.”
Burnes had Tommy John Surgery in June of 2025, so his injury timeline, based on his assumption of how rehab is going, puts him on track to return sometime in July.
In his first 64.1 innings with the Diamondbacks, Burnes posted a 2.66 ERA and 63 strikeouts.
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Can the Diamondbacks Compete in the NL West?
The NL West is one of the best divisions in baseball. With the back-to-back World Series champs at the top of the division, Arizona will be up against a challenge, but the Diamondbacks don’t have too shabby of a roster themselves.
It appears as if Ketel Marte will be staying put, which gives the Diamondbacks a strong core of Marte, Corbin Carroll, and Geraldo Perdomo. Gabriel Moreno is also emerging as a top catcher in MLB.
Burnes’ return will be critical to the Diamondbacks chances to make the playoffs, as if he’s fully healthy in August and September, that would certainly bring a massive boost to the starting rotation.
Arizona is also awaiting the decision of top free agent starter Zac Gallen and where he will decide to play in 2026. His free agency is starting to gain traction, and the Diamondbacks might be frontrunners to retain their All-Star starter.
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