What is next for Diamondbacks ace Corbin Burnes? How about Ketel Marte?

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks ace pitcher Corbin Burnes took another step toward returning to the club, throwing an inning with 13 pitches during a Bridge League game at Sloan Park on Tuesday.

Burnes finished his outing with another 11 pitches in the bullpen, and he will throw two innings on Saturday. That appearance could be with Triple-A Reno, depending on any potential complications from the Hawk fire burning just northwest of the city.

Once he gets through that, his return could approach pretty quickly, depending on how it goes and the Diamondbacks’ state of affairs.

“Getting Corbin back at three (innings) and 45 (pitches) is the conversation,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “Is that going to be good for him? Is that going to be good for us? What does our bullpen look like at the time? We have a very busy weekend in San Francisco, four games in three days. We’ll get through the weekend and then chop it up that way. At that time, we’ll also have more information about how this next outing goes for Corbin.”

Lovullo said assistant general manager Amiel Sawdaye went to go watch Burnes at Sloan Park.

“It looked like it was, according to Amiel, his first time stepping onto a mound (in a while),” Lovullo said. “But he went out there and competed and did his job. … I know that he wants to be out there as soon as possible. But for a first outing, Amiel said it was really good.”

The Diamondbacks have starting rotation questions for this week and beyond, as Michael Soroka went on the injured list on Sunday and is hoping to be back in two weeks. Three of Arizona’s four starters in San Francisco will be pitchers who are not on the active roster, barring an opener situation.

MLB rosters expand in September to 28 players, giving the D-backs a little more coverage for short starts.

Burnes underwent elbow surgery in June 2025, and he suffered a teres major while ramping back up earlier this year, he announced on June 3. The 2021 Cy Young winner has maintained the desire to pitch down the stretch of this season.

If Burnes gets through Saturday cleanly, and the D-backs want to bring him back up sooner than later, he could become an option on the road against the Houston Astros (Aug. 4-6).

What about Zac Gallen?

Gallen (right elbow inflammation) also pitched at Sloan Park on Tuesday, delivering three innings with 45 pitches. Sawdaye told Lovullo that the ball was coming out of Gallen’s hand really well.

The veteran is on the 60-day IL and cannot return until Arizona’s road series at the Kansas City Royals (Aug. 7-9).

Lovullo said the next step for Gallen is to be determined.

Ketel Marte will get game reps soon

Lovullo also mentioned that second baseman Ketel Marte will receive game reps before he returns to the Diamondbacks, which could be as soon as Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Marte posted several videos on his Instagram story Tuesday, showing his work in the batting cage and fielding at second base over at Salt River Fields.

“I think there’s some Bridge League games that are on the docket, I don’t know what that schedule is,” Lovullo said. “He’s still working out over at Salt River, getting stuff done in the lab.”

Lovullo explained he has not received any clarity on whether Marte will come to Chase Field before getting reinstated from the injured list, saying the two have not communicated since their meeting with general manager Mike Hazen and Marte’s agent, Charisse Espinosa-Dash, last Thursday.

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