D-backs right-hander Corbin Burnes made his first Minor League rehab appearance on Saturday as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery and a right teres major (shoulder) strain that delayed his recovery.
Burnes, a four-time All-Star and the 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner while he was with the Brewers, started in Triple-A Reno’s 12-2 win over Sacramento at Greater Nevada Field.
Here’s what you need to know:
How did Burnes perform?
Burnes threw two perfect innings against the River Cats, inducing four groundouts, a flyout and a lineout on 17 pitches (10 strikes). The 31-year-old’s cutter sat between 92-93 mph, and he mixed in four curveballs and a changeup.
What’s next?
Since Burnes hadn’t seen game action since he last pitched in a Major League game on June 1, 2025, it’s likely he’ll need a few more rehab outings before being ready to return to the D-backs’ rotation -- in which case, he could return sometime before the end of the regular season and potentially help Arizona if it reaches the playoffs.
What they’re saying
After beginning a throwing program in May in preparation to return from 2025 Tommy John surgery, Burnes suffered a setback when he was diagnosed with a right teres major strain.
Prior to that, he was champing at the bit to get back to game action following several bullpen sessions.
“I'm sick of throwing bullpens," Burnes said on May 21. "Just getting better mechanically, getting cleaner, putting it in the right spot. I shocked, I think, a couple people today with the velocity, but it's been good. Now it's kind of the point now where we're making sure the shape of all the pitches are good."
What else?
The D-backs signed Burnes to a six-year, $210 million contract prior to the 2025 campaign. He made 11 starts for Arizona last season, posting a 2.66 ERA before injuring his elbow.
Burnes spent the first six seasons of his Major League career with the Brewers and was traded to the Orioles following the 2023 campaign. Overall, the veteran right-hander owns a 3.15 ERA over eight MLB seasons.
Before the Tommy John surgery, Burnes had established himself as one of the more durable starters in baseball, throwing 590 innings over 97 starts from 2022-24, and only landing on the injured list once.