Corbin Burnes’ expected return vs. Royals next week is the ‘worst kept secret’

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Corbin Burnes is expected to make his long-awaited return against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday, Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reported on Thursday.

Manager Torey Lovullo told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Friday that Burnes being available on Tuesday “might be the worst-kept secret in baseball.”

“Corbin Burnes is going to be available and most likely in that spot,” Lovullo said. “The pitch count will be exactly what you were thinking, somewhere around that 60-pitch range if he is available.”

Burnes has not pitched since June 2025 after leaving a game against the Washington Nationals with an elbow injury and later undergoing Tommy John surgery. The four-time All-Star, who signed a six-year, $210 million deal before the 2025 season, was on track to make his return in July this season before suffering a teres major strain in June in his right lat and being shut down.

Burnes pitched two 1-2-3 innings for the Reno Aces on Aug. 23 and in a bridge camp game on Thursday. There was discussion of Burnes potentially returning from the injured list for the Diamondbacks’ weekend series against the Houston Astros, but Lovullo said Tuesday the organization opted to build him up for one more rehab start to increase his pitch count.

News of Burnes’ imminent return comes as the Diamondbacks are currently without several starters in the rotation, including Burnes, Zac Gallen, Michael Soroka and Ryne Nelson. Lovullo said Soroka and Gallen will each pitch in a simulated game at Salt River Fields on Friday, while Nelson will pitch for Single-A Visalia on Saturday to begin his rehab assignment.

Arizona has an “open space” in its rotation on Monday, which Lovullo said could be a bullpen game. That creates some complications since Burnes will not get particularly deep into his outing.

The Diamondbacks (74-67) could use a boost from some of the potential returns in the starting rotation as Arizona enters Friday’s series against the Astros a half game up on the San Diego Padres (73-67) for the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League.

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