Corbin Burnes Update For Diamondbacks Is Not A Good One

Corbin Burnes will be getting a second opinion on his right elbow after initial tests were inconclusive

The bad news for the Arizona Diamondbacks is that Corbin Burnes has been placed on the injured list with what is now being called "elbow inflammation". The good news is that they aren't using the dreaded "Tommy John" words just yet. But wait, there's more bad news, as he's going for a second opinion after the MRI results were "inconclusive."

Corbin Burnes will be getting a second opinion on his right elbow after initial tests were inconclusive, per @Gambo987. pic.twitter.com/DEQw5VNbMf
— PHNX Diamondbacks (@PHNX_Dbacks) June 3, 2025

The Snakes are hoping for a further update on Thurdsay or Friday, after Burnes has a meeting with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.

Corbin Burnes is seeing Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles for an opinion on his elbow.
— Jody Jackson (@Jody_Jackson) June 3, 2025

Yes, that the same Dr. Neal ElAttrache who is the renowned orthopedic surgeon who has performed Tommy John surgery well over 50 times every single year for each of the last 30 years. An appointment with him is usually not a good sign.

Burnes left his last start on the weekend, complaining, "My elbow's done. It's dead."

That, too, is usually not a good sign.

The former Cy Young winner signed a six year, $210 million free agent deal with Arizona this past offseason, and the four-time All-Star has a 2.66 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP and a 63:26 K/BB ratio in his first season thus far with the D-Backs.

Insider Jim Bowden says if Burnes is out for the year, "they're screwed. Their season is over."

Arizona is currently 28-31, in 4th place in the tough NL West Division, 7.5 games back of the Dodgers, and their hopes of making a return visit to the World Series as they did two years ago are quickly drying up. Even with Burnes in the rotation, they're 24th in baseball in team ERA at 4.81 and 22nd in WHIP (1.34). Without Burnes, they're toast.