PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks ace Corbin Burnes has never gone through an elongated injury recovery before, but he is making an effort to stay involved where he can.
Burnes said he is watching every game, and not having to worry about his next start for another 12-14 months (by his estimation) allows him to see the game a bit differently when watching his teammates, particularly the pitchers.
“It’s obviously different. My routine and my process throughout the week is definitely a lot different,” Burnes said in the D-backs’ clubhouse on Sunday.
“It’s a lot more geared to getting healthy and being a dad and husband. I obviously tune into every game, but I do what I can to help guys out remotely as far as game planning and scouting reports. When guys have questions, I’ve always got my phone with me. I come in here a couple days a week whenever I can, just do what I can to help out and be a source to the young guys.”
Manager Torey Lovullo called Burnes the day after the veteran pitcher underwent Tommy John surgery last month. One of his messages was to not stray too far from the team.
Burnes mentioned he connects with pitching coach Brian Kaplan every day, and he frequently talks with Brandon Pfaadt. Pfaadt recently started throwing a cutter more often to tunnel his sinker and has thrown back-to-back quality starts.
The cutter is Burnes’ go-to pitch, and he was alerted when the plan was for Pfaadt to start throwing more of them.
“He had some questions about it,” Burnes said. “Every time he pitches, I talk to him about it, just see how he feels and what he’s kind of learning from it. … It’s one of those things that you learn what you can do differently with it every time you pitch. He’s done great with it.”
“I’ve been an injured player and it can be depressing at times, but when you come around your teammates and your coaches, it makes you feel good,” Lovullo said. “And that’s what I’m asking for. And (Burnes) has been great.”
Burnes has a long road ahead before he can get back on the mound. He’s not only out for the remainder of the 2025 season, but his entire 2026 campaign is threatened as well. A return in the second half of next season is the best-case scenario.
Burnes joked that he’d be ready by Opening Day 2026, but he’s looking at sometime around the All-Star break as a more realistic possibility.
“Elbow, shoulder injuries in general have been up a lot the last couple years. I couldn’t tell you the reason why, I’ve got a lot of theories, but I’ll keep that out of the media for a while,” Burnes said. “It sucks that I just signed here and was throwing the ball really well and then it happened. … You’re not immune to it, it happens in this game. Just have to do my best to rehab from it and make sure it never happens again.”
For the time being, he gets to spend more time at home with his young children, although his son, Carter, keeps asking if he can go back to Chase Field and hang out in the clubhouse.
Diamondbacks notes
– Relievers Jalen Beeks (lower back inflammation) and Shelby Miller (right flexor strain) threw bullpens on Saturday of 23 and 24 pitches, respectively, as they work back from the injured list. Lovullo said they are further along than Ryan Thompson (scapular strain), who has yet to throw off a mound but has started his throwing program.
– Infielders Pavin Smith (oblique strain) and Ildemaro Vargas (fractured foot) have started taking dry swings. Smith has been able to do cardio and work on infield hands drills. Vargas has taken standing ground balls. Catcher Gabriel Moreno will get a CT scan this upcoming week.
