With an NL wild-card spot within reach, the Arizona Diamondbacks are set to welcome back several injured players in the coming weeks, including the long-awaited return of their ace, Corbin Burnes.
Burnes, 31, last pitched in June 2025 before undergoing Tommy John Surgery and missing the rest of the season and most of 2026. The injury came just 11 starts into Burnes’ tenure with the Diamondbacks after he signed a six-year, $210 million contract in the 2024-2025 offseason. According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Phoenix, Burnes is targeting a return during the first week of September.
The hard-throwing righty was expected to return earlier in the season, but suffered a teres major strain in June during his recovery. That setback kept him out for an additional three months, and an early September return means Burnes is right on track.
Burnes’ return couldn’t have come at a better time for the Diamondbacks. The team is just a game out of the final NL wild-card spot that is currently occupied by the San Diego Padres. Arizona is also just two games back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the second NL wild-card spot.
Gambadoro also reported that the Diamondbacks are expecting the return of Ryne Nelson in the first week of September, and starter Zac Gallen later in the month. Outfielder Lourdes Gurriel is also expected to return next week.
The moves are a welcome distraction for the team and some good news after the mysterious absence of star infielder Ketel Marte. Marte was with the team in Boston, but failed to show up at Fenway Park for the game on Monday. The Diamondbacks placed Marte on the Restricted List and it was reported on Tuesday that he is returning to Arizona for an MRI on his knee.
Diamondbacks fans are eager to see Burnes on the mound after he has missed most of the first two years of his contract. Before his injury, Burnes was a perennial MLB All-Star and won the NL Cy Young Award with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021. He also made at least 28 starts between 2021 and 2024 and was considered one of the true workhorses in baseball.
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