PHOENIX -- Spring Training for the Diamondbacks ended nearly two months ago when they packed their stuff from Salt River Fields and headed to Los Angeles to open the 2026 regular season.
But for ace pitcher Corbin Burnes, Spring Training is just about to begin.
The Diamondbacks’ right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery a little more than a year ago and for the past couple months has been throwing bullpen sessions as part of his rehab program. Next week, he said, he's going to face hitters either in live batting practice or complex games at the team's Spring Training facility.
“Then we’ll start building from there,” said Burnes. “That’s basically the start of my Spring Training.”
All along, the realistic plan was for Burnes to return around the All-Star break. If next week is the start of a Spring Training buildup for him, that would certainly align with that target date.
"I should be right on time," he said.
Starting pitchers typically make four or five starts during Spring Training, gradually building up their pitch count with each outing. With the Diamondbacks being extra cautious, Burnes said he will likely have six or seven outings before his pitch count is fully built up and he’s ready to rejoin the active roster.
Even with their starting rotation pitching well, the Diamondbacks would welcome a return from Burnes, who signed the largest contract in franchise history -- a six-year, $210 million deal -- prior to last season. Burnes made 11 starts and had a 2.66 ERA before suffering a tear of his ulnar collateral ligament.
The rehab process is a long and tedious one and Burnes has grown somewhat tired of the pace. He's thrown basically two bullpens a week for the past couple of months.
"I'm sick of throwing bullpens," he said.
That process has gone well, though. Burnes has not experienced any setbacks to date and the radar gun readings from his bullpen sessions have shown that the ball is coming out of his hand well.
Fine-tuning his command after such a long layoff from throwing will be the next hurdle for him.
"Just getting better mechanically, getting cleaner, putting it in the right spot," Burnes said. "I shocked, I think, 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."