Diamondbacks Ace Corbin Burnes Out for Season with Elbow Injury

The Arizona Diamondbacks suffered a major blow to their season. Corbin Burnes, the team’s ace pitcher, will miss the rest of the 2025 season after learning he needs Tommy John surgery. The operation is scheduled for next week.

Burnes had to leave his most recent start against the Washington Nationals after feeling tightness in his right elbow during the fifth inning. After giving up a single to Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams, Burnes signaled to the dugout. Trainers came out, and after a quick conversation, Burnes left the game. He was clearly frustrated, and fans feared something serious had happened. Sadly, those fears were confirmed.

What Is Tommy John Surgery?

Tommy John surgery is done when a pitcher tears a ligament in their elbow. A ligament is a strong band of tissue that connects bones and keeps joints stable. During the surgery, doctors replace the damaged ligament with a healthy one from another part of the body or a donor.

The surgery is named after Tommy John, a former MLB pitcher who was the first to have the procedure in 1974. While many pitchers have returned successfully after it, recovery usually takes 12 to 18 months. That means Burnes will miss not only the rest of the 2025 season but also part of 2026.

Burnes’ Season and Contract

Burnes, 30, is in the first year of a six-year, $210 million contract with the Diamondbacks. He had been having a solid season atop the rotation, going 3-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 11 starts. He was known as one of the league’s most reliable pitchers, making at least 28 starts each year over the last four seasons.

Diamondbacks Future Outlook

At 33-34, the Diamondbacks sit 6.5 games back in the NL West. Losing Burnes is a major setback to their chances of returning to the playoffs this season, and it also weakens their outlook for 2026.

“This is a really tough day for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tough day for Corbin Burnes,” manager Torey Lovullo said on Arizona Sports 98.7’s Burns & Gambo show. “These types of things happen in this game. He's just a great teammate, he's a great human being. But it's time for other guys to step up and pick up Corbin, and that'll be our mindset.”

The Arizona rotation, already a weakness that ranked 24th in ERA coming into Friday, now looks like a massive liability without Burnes in place. His injury could significantly change how the front office approaches the trade deadline. Instead of buying, the team might now be more inclined to sell and shift focus toward the future.

Eyes will be on the Diamondbacks as the deadline nears. It will be one of the more interesting situations to follow.