PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks ace pitcher Corbin Burnes feels like he’s been stuck throwing bullpens for six months.
In reality, it has been two, but Burnes is aching to face hitters again after undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer.
That moment is nearly here, as Burnes has two more bullpens scheduled before he is set to face live hitters late next week, likely next Friday, May 29.
“Then we’ll start building from there. That’s basically the start of my spring training,” Burnes said after throwing a bullpen on Tuesday.
“I’m sick of throwing bullpens but they tell me it’s part of the job. … Everything has felt good. No issues.”
Corbin Burnes said he’s still right on target and that he will start facing live hitters late next week. pic.twitter.com/rg3dqdivEU
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) May 19, 2026
Burnes said he remains on track for his All-Star break target date if not a bit earlier, which he will continue to push for.
The four-time All-Star joked with management that he would be ready to go in March, which was digested as a positive.
“He’s very eager to get back out, and he wants to throw more pitches every time he’s in a bullpen,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “That’s a good sign, the fact that he’s feeling that good is a very good thing for us.”
The Diamondbacks signed Burnes to a six-year, $210 million deal after the 2024 season (player opt-out after 2026), the biggest contract in franchise history to fortify the starting rotation. Burnes threw 11 starts with a 2.66 ERA before his elbow gave out, leading to internal brace surgery.
Burnes said he will probably need more outings during this build-up than a typical spring training, in the ballpark of six or seven as opposed to five.
“Nothing has deterred us,” Burnes said of hitting his target return date. “It’s more going to be how the next three-to-four weeks go when we start getting into games and start building that pitch count up and make sure we’re recovering well, able to add pitches as we want. Next week start lives (live batting practice), get into games in a couple of weeks.”
Command has been Burnes’ main focus in bullpens since he started throwing, as that is his strategy to be as sharp as possible coming back. Pitch shapes have also become a priority to make sure everything looks the way it should. Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo stood in the batter’s box during Burnes’ bullpen on Tuesday to give feedback.
Burnes felt the ball coming out of his hand firmer than expected on Tuesday, as well.
Diamondbacks reliever A.J. Puk, who also underwent the internal brace procedure last summer, threw to live batters for the first time since surgery on Tuesday at Salt River Fields, as the club is starting to see light at the end of the tunnel for a couple of their high-profile arms.
There are many boxes to check before they get back onto the Chase Field mound, but the progress has provided optimism.
“We’re gonna start to layer in our guys,” Lovullo said.
What is James McCann’s timeline? Why call up another catcher?
Lovullo provided an update on catcher James McCann, who landed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with a right calf strain.
McCann is expected to be out four-to-six weeks, and the club selected the contract of Aramis Garcia to provide another backup catcher in his place.
The D-backs have starter Gabriel Moreno and Adrian Del Castillo as options behind the plate, and Lovullo gave the rundown for why adding a third catcher was optimal.
“We had a couple models,” Lovullo said. “It gives me a chance to DH (Del Castillo), pinch run for (Del Castillo), pinch run for (Moreno), stuff like that. We look at (Del Castillo) as a huge asset being able to catch, but we we want him to be able to get some at-bats versus righties as a designated hitter. He’s gonna catch, as well. He’s gonna get that opportunity. So just gives me a lot of flexibility to maneuver with the extra guy there.”
The Diamondbacks have versatile position players such as Ildemaro Vargas, Jose Fernandez and Tim Tawa, so there was not a clear position of need if the D-backs chose not to bring on another catcher.
The Diamondbacks take on the Giants at 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday night, which can be heard on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
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