Burnes to undergo Tommy John surgery, will miss rest of 2025 season

CINCINNATI -- Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo couldn’t put much of a positive spin on the news he and his ace right-hander got before Friday’s series opener against the Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Corbin Burnes will undergo Tommy John surgery next week and will miss the rest of the 2025 season.

Burnes was forced to leave his most recent start against the Nationals on Sunday in the top of the fifth inning when he felt tightness in his elbow.

“The news isn't great. So, Corbin is going to have Tommy John surgery next week,” Lovullo said on Friday. “It was a lot of information, a lot of fast moving information, a lot of people weighing in on this.”

Burnes received a second opinion in Los Angeles from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who will perform the procedure.

“Corbin felt like this was the best decision for him, to continue pushing forward,” Lovullo said. “And what does it mean, time-wise? I don't have any idea. I just know, sometime next week, there's going to be a surgery scheduled, to be done by Dr. ElAttrache in L.A., and then get him on the road to recovery.”

Burnes said there was no one pitch that he felt pain on, but he noticed the tightness while getting out the first two batters of the fifth inning on Sunday. Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams then came to the plate, and the velocity on Burnes' cut fastball was down nearly three mph during the at-bat.

After Abrams singled to right field, Burnes immediately waved to the dugout for the trainer to come out. After a brief conversation, a visibly frustrated Burnes walked off the field.

“Being that he didn't have any elbow issues, at least that I know of, I guess we were all kind of hoping maybe he just wasn't sure what he was feeling in there, but it seems like that's what he was feeling when he was on the mound,” Lovullo said. “We were just hoping that that was just an emotional knee-jerk reaction.

“I just know that Tommy John involves a ligament, and it's compromised, and he needs to have the procedure. So we're all with Corbin right now. This is a tough, tough day to get this news, but we'll find a way to rally around him, play hard for him all year long.”

Burnes, 30, is in the first season of a six-year, $210 million contract with Arizona. He went 3-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 11 starts.

What Lovullo made clear Friday is that Burnes will have the emotional support of his new teammates, the biggest comfort the team can provide the ace during a time where he’s processing the emotional gut-punch.

“They're going to pick up on it. They're going to know about it, but there's a strong brotherhood inside of that clubhouse,” Lovullo said. “Corbin is new to the group. There's other new additions, but you find out quickly this is a real authentic group that cares [about] and loves one another. So we're going to be there for Corbin on any level. I know he's got an amazing family and an amazing wife, Brooke, that's going to support him the best way they can, and we’ll be here when the time is right for him.

“I anticipate that we'll see him sometime after the procedure and rally around him the best way we know how, because that's so important. But he's going to be missed. He's just a great teammate, he's a great human being. And when you miss that from your clubhouse, you know it, but it's time for other guys to step up. I don't want to downplay what's happening, but it's a time for other guys to step up and pick up Corbin, and that'll be our mindset.”

Lovullo hasn’t given much time to thinking about how long Arizona will be without its ace right-hander.

“I know everyone wants to know, ‘When is he coming back?’ I have no idea,” Lovullo added. “I just know that it's a long road and it takes time for him to heal and recover. And he will. He's going to be great for the Arizona Diamondbacks. I'm convinced of it.”