Diamondbacks’ Ace Corbin Burnes to Undergo Tommy John Surgery

PHOENIX — Corbin Burnes, the ace pitcher of the Arizona Diamondbacks, will undergo Tommy John surgery next week, manager Torey Lovullo announced Friday. The surgery follows an elbow injury sustained on June 1 during a game against the Washington Nationals.

Burnes, who has a 2.66 ERA this season in 11 starts, experienced discomfort while pitching in the fifth inning. He called for a trainer and left the game after being visibly frustrated. An MRI revealed a significant UCL tear in his right elbow.

“The news isn’t great. Corbin is going to have Tommy John surgery next week,” said Lovullo. “Corbin felt like this was the best decision for him to continue pushing forward.” The procedure will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.

This injury ends Burnes’ 2025 season, his first with the Diamondbacks after signing a six-year, $210 million contract last offseason. Burnes was a Cy Young Award winner in 2021 and has made four consecutive All-Star appearances.

Despite his promising start this season with a 3-2 record and 63 strikeouts, the Diamondbacks now face a challenging situation in their rotation. Burnes’ absence follows other losses, including pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Blake Walston, both of whom are currently recovering from Tommy John surgeries.

“We’re not gonna rush this,” Lovullo said regarding Burnes’ recovery. “We’ll make sure he’s good and healthy.” The estimated recovery time for Tommy John surgery ranges from 14 to 18 months.

The Diamondbacks, currently at .500 with a record of 31-31, now must reconsider their strategy as they push for a wild-card spot in a competitive NL West division.