The former Cy Young winner retired six straight batters on just 17 pitches in his first rehab assignment with the Arizona Diamondbacks' Triple-A affiliate.
Reinforcements are on the way for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and this team couldn't have asked to get Corbin Burnes back at a better time.
The former Cy Young winner made his first rehab appearance on Saturday, Aug. 29, in a game that saw him go six up, six down.
The Reno Aces cruised to a 12-2 victory over the Sacramento River Cats, and it began with a dominant two inning outing from Burnes.
Burnes needed just 17 pitches to record his six outs. In total, 10 of those were strikes, and he got four of the six batters he faced to groundout.
Diamondbacks need Burnes back now more than ever
With a month to go in the regular season, the D-backs know how crucial this stretch is. Winning the division is mostly out of the question, but they recently matched the San Diego Padres winning percentage, and are now tied for the final National League Wild Card spot.
It's going to be awhile before Burnes returns to form, but AZ Sports' Alex Weiner confirmed he had an average fastball velocity of 92.5 mph during his first rehab start at the Triple-A level.
Burnes, who hasn't pitched in the majors since June 1, 2025, could be the missing piece the D-backs need to ensure a 2026 postseason birth.
After bouncing around between a few teams, Arizona gave Burnes a comfortable six-year, $210 million deal in December 2024.
Obviously, he hasn't had a chance to prove his worth yet, but that could all change as the 2026 season winds down.
Burnes was a 1.9 WAR player in 11 games last season
Seemingly every time Burnes steps onto the mound, he does wonders for the team he's playing for. He holds a career .624 winning percentage, having started 149 of the 210 games he's appeared in. His 3.15 ERA is phenomenal, and that's further proven with his career 1.07 WHIP.
D-backs fans have been keeping a close eye on Burnes status, and him making quick work of the River Cats was a sight to behold.
Burnes needed just two pitches to record his first out, and from there, he cruised through an eight-pitch first inning.
Burnes also recorded the first out of the second inning in just two pitches, and then he managed to work out of a 2-0 count in the next two batters he faced.
For those keeping tabs at home, Burnes cutter maxed out at 93.3 mph against the final batter he faced.
