As the 2024 season came to a close, among the biggest free agents was Corbin Burnes. Burnes, a former Cy Young Award Winner, was coming off another good season. After 2024, Burnes signed a massive 6-year, 210 million dollar contract to go the Arizona Diamondbacks. Unfortunately for Arizona, after just 11 starts, Burnes is to undergo season-ending surgery.
Corbin Burnes Says: “Elbow Isn’t Working”
After a good start to the season, Burnes came into another night hoping for a good day. However, as Burnes was removed from the game, Burnes was actually seen complaining about his elbow. Unfortunately, it was soon found out that Burnes is need of Tommy John surgery, the most brutal surgery that a pitcher can have.
Simply put, it’s a horrible thing for the Diamondbacks who now will have to go without their best ace. Even though the D-Backs have seen a bit of a surge lately, Arizona sits with a mediocre record and got such news at a horrible time. The D-Backs are faced with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and even the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. Such an injury hurts massively for Arizona.
Tommy John Surgery and it’s Possible Effects Explained
Unfortunately, this brutal surgery is the worst possible for a pitcher. Usually, such a surgery takes a massive toll not just because it causes a pitcher to miss a full season. Tommy John surgery also causes a decrease in velocity, sometimes significantly hurting a pitchers ability to pitch well.
Such a surgery can also make it hard for even aces to find a grove again. If a pitcher is throwing 100 MPH on the mound, Tommy John surgery can cause such velocity to drop to 95 or lower. This massive injury could significantly impact Burnes. However, some pitchers can actually survive powerful injuries and return to form. However, Tommy John is never a thing that wants to be heard by a pitcher. The three most terrifying words for a pitcher in the English language: Tommy John Surgery.
What Now for Arizona?
Now, Arizona will have to depend on others for their season. The D-Backs missed last postseason after a more mediocre season than expected. This season, with the addition of Burnes and Josh Naylor, not many expected this season to be the same story. Even with Burnes however, the teams in National League regardless have been great.
The Diamondbacks have been forced to deal with a mediocre season because of this. Without Burnes, the Diamondbacks are in serious trouble. Perhaps this recent surge is more than just a fluke though.
The Diamondbacks are having to deal with some the harshest news in all of sports. Their best pitcher is out for the rest of the season. All hope isn’t lost, but such things aren’t usually good. Hopefully for Arizona, their still great team can recover from their not so great start and begin to win again.
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