The Arizona Diamondbacks may be one ace away from becoming a serious threat in this year’s postseason.

Right-hander Corbin Burnes, who underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2025, and a right shoulder injury setback, is getting closer to returning to the mound for Arizona.

The former Cy Young Award winner made only 11 starts in a Diamondbacks uniform before the injury ended his 2025 season. 

Burnes joined Arizona after signing a six-year, $210 million contract following an outstanding 2024 season with the Baltimore Orioles.

During that year, he posted a 2.92 ERA in 194.1 innings while allowing only 7.6 Hits Per Nine Innings (H/9) across 32 starts.

Now, the four-time All-Star is eager to return to the mound.

According to Alden González from ESPN, Burnes has recently made significant progress in his rehabilitation.

He is throwing off a mound and told reporters that he expects to return before the end of August.

"But there has been recent progress. Burnes is throwing off a mound now, and he told reporters his expectation is to be back before the end of August," González wrote.

That timeline would represent a relatively quick return for Burnes considering the seriousness of Tommy John surgery.

He would also presumably need at least two or three rehabilitation starts in the minor leagues before being ready to face MLB hitters again.

González cautioned that Burnes’ expectation of returning before the end of August could be overly optimistic.

However, he also reported that the right-hander is trending toward beginning a rehab assignment, an extremely encouraging development for a thin Diamondbacks rotation that has also been without Zac Gallen, Michael Soroka, and Ryne Nelson. Soroka returned yesterday.

Burnes may not immediately return at full strength, but simply adding a starting pitcher of his caliber could significantly change Arizona’s outlook heading into the postseason.

Few pitchers bring the combination of experience, composure and competitive mentality that Burnes could provide.

He has already established himself as a pitcher capable of carrying significant responsibility at the front of a rotation. His ability to remain composed when innings become difficult is particularly valuable in postseason baseball, where individual mistakes are magnified.

Burnes also brings an aggressive mentality on the mound. He has built his reputation by challenging hitters, trusting his arsenal and refusing to allow difficult moments to alter his approach.

His experience as a former Cy Young Award winner and four-time All-Star would also provide another established presence for a rotation that has been forced to navigate significant injuries.

The biggest question will be how quickly Burnes can regain his normal feel and command after such a lengthy absence.

Arizona would not necessarily need him to immediately resemble the pitcher he was before surgery. Even a gradually improving Burnes could provide stability and confidence to a staff preparing for October.

If he can return before the postseason and rediscover his form, the Diamondbacks could become a considerably more difficult opponent for any National League contender.