PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks ace Corbin Burnes will undergo Tommy John surgery on Wednesday, the procedure that will end his 2025 season and threaten 2026.
After receiving a second opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles last week, the ace opted to go ahead with surgery for the first time in his career.
Outfielder Alek Thomas and several teammates found out like many fans, as the news came across the TV.
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“There was no announcement or anything … He’s one of our guys, he’s a Cy Young-type player, so it’s tough,” Thomas said.
Burnes’ first season in the desert ended after only 64.1 innings, during which he worked a 2.66 ERA with 63 strikeouts.
Without his top-tier arm to count on every time he goes out there, the rest of the rotation will need to improve their consistency, and they know it.
“To be taken away from something that you care so deeply about I think is really tough, so I think that’s first and foremost what guys are bummed about here with Corbin,” starter Zac Gallen said.
“At the same time, guys were bummed losing a guy that’s at the top of your rotation, one of the best pitchers in baseball. … Obviously that’s tough, but I think you saw a little glimpse in Atlanta, like, everybody’s gotta step up a little bit more and pull our weight a little bit more. Hopefully it can energize us a little bit more to get geared and see what happens.”
Manager Torey Lovullo said players are conditioned to prepare for the worst-case scenario, but this news was tough to absorb.
Diamondbacks lose Cristian Mena to teres major strain
The Diamondbacks received some poor news from pitcher Cristian Mena’s MRI, as Lovullo said the right-hander suffered a teres major strain in his right arm.
The injury is not expected to keep Mena out for the rest of the year, but he is going to miss “weeks, not days.”
Mena landed on the injured list on Saturday after he threw one inning in pouring rain against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday at Great American Ballpark.
Lovullo was very critical of how that game was handled given the conditions, but he said Mena’s injury is not directly tied to the weather.
“No, because I think he was feeling a little something in the bullpen,” Lovullo said. “I want to believe it was because of the rain because I can target a situation that’s still bothering me. Unfortunately, I can’t.”
Mena had been providing coverage in the bullpen after Burnes landed on the IL and Ryne Nelson returned to the rotation. The Diamondbacks lose increasingly critical pitching depth with this injury, as Mena could have started in case another one of Arizona’s arms suffered an ailment.
Starting pitcher Merrill Kelly dealt with a teres major strain in his shoulder last season and missed nearly three months.
Mena threw 6.2 MLB innings this year before hitting the IL, giving up one earned run with eight strikeouts.
Corbin Carroll had hamstring issue
Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll was out of the lineup on Friday and Saturday in Cincinnati.
Lovullo disclosed the reason being a tight hamstring, saying Carroll was getting close to 100% by Monday.
“I think it’s in the past,” Lovullo said. “I think we’re pushing through it and we’re just about at the other side. So it’s improving rapidly every single day.”
Carroll returned to the batting order on Sunday and hit an RBI single.
Lovullo said Carroll was not the only D-backs player to come up “ a little bit sore and a little bit lame” after sweeping the Atlanta Braves on Friday.
Diamondbacks injury notes
– Catcher Gabriel Moreno has not played since he took a wild pitch to his right hand on Friday, but he’s getting close. Jose Herrera has started in Moreno’s place, which continued to be the case on Monday.
“(Moreno) is officially able to back up as a true backup. Yesterday would’ve been emergency only,” Lovullo said.
– The Diamondbacks placed reliever Kendall Graveman on the 15-day IL on Monday with right hip impingement. Lovullo said the issue had been bothering Graveman for more than two weeks, so it got to a point where he could no longer pitch through it. Graveman gave up six runs in an inning on Saturday against the Reds before hitting the IL. Christian Montes De Oca was recalled in his place.
“Unknown,” Lovullo said of a timeline. “When we talked about it yesterday at Cincinnati, I said my hope is on the 16th day you’re healed … because we really need you in this bullpen. So hopefully it’s on the 16th day, but his health is in somebody else’s hands right now.”
– A.J. Puk has reached 120 feet in his throwing program (left elbow inflammation).
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