Corbin

Burnes

The star 31-year-old right-hander is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery and is tentatively targeting a return around the All-Star break. This was done primarily as a procedural move to free up a spot on the team’s 40-man roster to make the Zac Gallen signing official on Sunday.

Burnes was saying the same at the end of last season, so he’s apparently made steady progress since. Burnes underwent Tommy John surgery in June, so a July return is fairly aggressive, though hardly unprecedented. The 31-year-old is entering the second season of a six-year, $210 million contract.

Burnes underwent Tommy John surgery in early June, so this is not an unexpected timeline. Shane Bieber was on a similar timeline last year before a setback delayed him, so fantasy managers can draft Burnes with the same confidence or expectations that they had for Bieber coming into the 2025 season.

The procedural move frees up a spot on Arizona’s 40-man roster for backup catcher Aramis Garcia. Burnes is set to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on Wednesday and will likely be sidelined until the second half of the 2026 campaign. The 30-year-old ace was in the first season of a six-year, $210 million contract with the Diamondbacks.

Ugh. The worst-case scenario was always a potential outcome once Burnes went for a second opinion on his elbow. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo confirmed the decision on Friday to reporters that Arizona’s ace will undergo reconstructive surgery. The 30-year-old right-hander, who is in the first season of a six-year, $210 million contract with the Diamondbacks, will miss the remainder of the 2025 season and most of the 2026 campaign as well while recovering from the procedure. It’s just an absolutely brutal blow to both the Diamondbacks and to fantasy managers. Ryne Nelson should now have extra runway to stick around in the club’s starting rotation.

Burnes, who was hurt during his start Sunday, is getting a second opinion on his elbow after initial tests failed to produce a definitive diagnosis. Ryne Nelson is taking his spot in the Arizona rotation. Burnes is 3-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 11 turns this season. He missed one start last month due to shoulder inflammation.

Not ideal. Burnes, who was injured during his start Sunday, figures to be placed on the injured list prior to Tuesday’s game. Tommy Henry is expected to take his spot on the active roster, but Ryne Nelson is the obvious choice to replace him in Arizona’s rotation.

Lovullo also noted that Burnes will undergo an MRI exam on Monday to determine the extent of the injury. The Diamondbacks’ skipper also stated his level of concern as “more than minimal.” It’s a terrible break for the Diamondbacks and for fantasy managers who are likely to be without their ace for at least a couple of weeks and potentially longer. The Diamondbacks won’t have any additional updates until after Monday’s exam so fantasy managers need to have alternative options on hand for next week as it seems extremely unlikely that Burnes would be able to make his next scheduled start.

Burnes had been cruising along in this one, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out six batters over 4 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. He looked uncomfortable after allowing a two-out single to CJ Abrams in the fifth though, prompting a visit from the training staff and his eventual removal. Burnes had experienced a dip in velocity on his cutter before leaving the game. Look for the Diamondbacks to provide an update on his status shortly. All fantasy managers can do right now is wait and hope for the best.

Burnes coasted through five shutout innings until Henry Davis took him deep for a two-run homer in the sixth. He returned for a scoreless seventh, completing seven frames with six strikeouts. He was saddled with a no-decision after the bullpen failed to hold a four-run lead. The 30-year-old right-hander will look to continue his strong season when he takes a 2.72 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 57/25 K/BB ratio across 59 2/3 innings into a start against the Braves in Atlanta next Tuesday.