Arizona Diamondbacks’ star pitcher Corbin Burnes is scheduled to have Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for at least the remainder of the 2025 season. This announcement follows a second medical opinion from Los Angeles specialist Neal El Attrache, confirming inflammation in Burnes’ right elbow. Burnes first injured his elbow on June 1st while pitching for the Washington Nationals, during a game in which Arizona was leading 3-0 in the fifth inning. After allowing a single to CJ Abrams with two outs, Burnes showed visible frustration and was soon removed from the game.
In his final outing, Burnes pitched 4 2/3 innings, conceding runs and four hits, with one walk and six strikeouts. He was subsequently placed on the 15-day injured list due to elbow inflammation, and now faces a lengthy recovery period following surgery. Before the injury, Burnes was 3-2 with a 2.66 ERA across 11 starts this season. Arizona had just invested $210 million in a contract with Burnes, who, at 30 years old, has demonstrated remarkable durability, making at least 28 starts each season since winning the 2021 National League Cy Young Award with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Burnes’ injury is another setback for the Diamondbacks, who currently have a 31-31 record and sit in fourth place, trailing by 6.5 games in the NL West and 3.5 games in the wild card race. The team missed the playoffs in 2024, losing a tiebreaker for the wild card spot to the Mets. Left-handed pitcher Tommy Henry, who has been on Burnes’ roster, has pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in one game this season.
Fan Take: Corbin Burnes’ injury is a tough blow for the Diamondbacks and their fans, highlighting how fragile a team’s prospects can be when a star player goes down. This also serves as a stark reminder of the physical toll pitching takes, and how medical advancements like Tommy John surgery are crucial for prolonging players’ careers and maintaining the competitive spirit of baseball.
