### Corbin Burnes' Injury: A Major Setback for the Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Burnes, the Arizona Diamondbacks' star pitcher, is set to undergo Tommy John surgery, effectively ending his first season with the team. Acquired in the offseason for a substantial six-year, $210 million contract, Burnes was expected to be a key player for the Diamondbacks. However, after experiencing elbow discomfort during a game against the Washington Nationals, he was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season and potentially most of the 2026 season as well [https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/all-star-corbin-burnes-set-for-tommy-john-surgery-ending-his-1st-season-in-arizona][https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6409355/2025/06/06/diamondbacks-corbin-burnes-tommy-john-surgery]. ### Breakdown of the Situation 1. **Injury Details**: - Burnes left his last start in the fifth inning due to elbow discomfort, which he described as feeling "dead" [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/diamondbacks_get_brutal_injury_news_on_ace_corbin_burnes/s1_13132_42294792]. - Initial assessments indicated elbow inflammation, but further evaluations confirmed a more severe injury requiring surgery [https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45466392/diamondbacks-rhp-corbin-burnes-tommy-john-surgery]. 2. **Impact on the Team**: - The Diamondbacks will be without their ace for the rest of the season, which is a significant blow to their pitching rotation and overall team performance [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/mlb/news/massive-blow-for-diamondbacks-as-corbin-burnes-ruled-out-with-season-ending-tommy-john-surgery/articleshow/121684723.cms]. - Burnes had a promising start to the season, holding a 2.66 ERA with 63 strikeouts over 11 starts before the injury [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/diamondbacks_ace_corbin_burnes_to_have_tommy_john_surgery/s1_17044_42295225]. 3. **Future Considerations**: - Recovery from Tommy John surgery typically takes 12 to 18 months, meaning Burnes may not return until late in the 2026 season [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/corbin_burnes_set_to_undergo_tommy_john_surgery/s1_13237_42294795]. - The Diamondbacks may need to explore trades or other roster adjustments to compensate for Burnes' absence as they navigate the remainder of the season [https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/3-trades-diamondbacks-must-make-after-corbin-burnes-tommy-john-surgery-update]. ### Summary of Findings **Corbin Burnes' injury is a significant setback for the Arizona Diamondbacks**: 1. **Injury Confirmation**: Burnes will undergo Tommy John surgery due to a torn UCL, ending his season prematurely [https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45466392/diamondbacks-rhp-corbin-burnes-tommy-john-surgery]. 2. **Team Impact**: The Diamondbacks lose their ace, which could affect their performance and playoff aspirations [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/mlb/news/massive-blow-for-diamondbacks-as-corbin-burnes-ruled-out-with-season-ending-tommy-john-surgery/articleshow/121684723.cms]. 3. **Future Outlook**: Recovery will take a significant amount of time, and the team may need to make strategic moves to fill the gap left by Burnes [https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/3-trades-diamondbacks-must-make-after-corbin-burnes-tommy-john-surgery-update]. This situation underscores the unpredictability of sports injuries and their potential to alter a team's trajectory significantly.