Breaking News Arizona Diamondbacks ace Corbin Burnes will undergo Tommy John surgery next week, manager Torey Lovullo said in a statement.

This comes after Burnes was put on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation after leaving his June 1 start vs. Washington Nationals due to discomfort.

 

Corbin Burnes Injury Update

The 30-year-old righty's MRI showed widespread ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) destruction and therefore required Tommy John surgery. The worst-case scenario for the Diamondbacks and fantasy overlords alike is next week's surgery. Burnes, who this winter signed a six-year, $210 million deal, will miss the rest of the 2025 season and probably a portion of 2026, considering the standard 12-18 months of recovery time for starting pitchers.

 

Corbin Burnes Stats

Prior to the injury, Burnes was a fantasy staple, working to a 3-2 record and 2.66 ERA over 11 starts in 2025, throwing 64.1 innings. His 8.81 K/9, 3.64 BB/9, and 0.98 HR/9 were indicative of his stability, as seen by his 50.3% ground ball rate and 80.6% left-on-base rate. His 2.66 ERA was in the upper echelons of the major leagues, so he was an immense loss. Burnes' 2021 NL Cy Young Award season (2.43 ERA, 12.61 K/9) is a testament to the significance this loss will have on fantasy lineups and Arizona playoff hopes.

 

Tommy John Recovery Time

Tommy John surgery, which reconstructs a torn-out UCL, usually keeps starting pitchers out of commission for 12-18 months, with full production sometimes requiring more time. Burnes is 30 and endures a difficult return, with others over 30 having some trouble getting back in form (e.g., Sandy Alcantara). He will not come back until mid-2026, and redraft fantasy managers can drop him unless IL space is available. Keepers/dynasty managers, on the other hand, might hold onto long-term value but must balance limited roster space with his uncertain 2026 outlook.

 

Arizona Diamondbacks Depth Chart

With Burnes gone, the Diamondbacks' rotation, already stretched thin by injury to Jordan Montgomery (Tommy John) and Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder, soon to return), further strained. The new rotation is this:

Ryne Nelson, who features a 3.43 ERA and 3.27 FIP, will inherit Burnes' rotation role, while Tommy Henry is recalled from Triple-A Reno as insurance in the bullpen. Nelson's strong recent run makes him an interesting streamer in deeper fantasy leagues, but doesn't have Burnes' upside. Gallen and Kelly are mainstays of the rotation, although Gallen's inflated ERA detracts from his fantasy reliability.

 

Corbin Burnes Fantasy Baseball Impact

Burnes' surgery is a major blow to fantasy lineups, where he was a top-10 starter. Redraft managers will need to sit him unless IL spots can accommodate stashing, because his 2025 lost time is set in stone. For keeper/dynasty leagues, ownership of Burnes is founded on roster depth and hope that he recovers from his 32-year-old shoulder surgery. 

Nelson and Rodriguez are briefly streaming plays, but fantasy owners can seek waiver wire alternatives in the form of high-ceiling prospects or deep league starters with good matchups. Arizona's 28-31 record and ailing rotation entail trade deadline transactions could further destabilize the roster, so keep an eye on Gallen and Kelly as potential trade rumors.

Recommendation: Bench Burnes in redraft leagues unless you can hide him on an IL spot. In keeper/dynasty, keep him if roster space is available, but set low expectations for 2026. Stream Nelson in deeper leagues, and be cautious about Rodriguez's reinstatement. Watch for Diamondbacks' trade activity as July 31 approaches.

 

 

Get More MLB Injury News