Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Corbin Burnes threw his second short-box bullpen session on Monday as part of his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander emphasized patience in the long rehabilitation process. He plans to continue with sessions twice a week for the coming month.
In Scottsdale, Arizona, Diamondbacks right-hander Corbin Burnes is navigating a deliberate recovery from Tommy John surgery undergone about nine months ago. The pitcher described the rehab as a marathon rather than a sprint, a point reinforced throughout his process. Burnes completed his first short-box bullpen session on Friday and followed with a second on Monday. A short-box setup positions the catcher directly on top of the plate to encourage sub-maximal effort from the pitcher. In his initial outing, he threw only fastballs; on Monday, he added a couple of curveballs and aims to incorporate his full repertoire in the weeks ahead. Burnes plans another session on Friday, followed by two per week for at least a month. He has felt strong during rehab, which makes it challenging to moderate his intensity. 'It takes a lot [to] not try to fire one off as hard as I can,' Burnes said. 'Gotta trust it, keep the effort level at 80 to 85 percent.' His projected return to the active roster aligns with the All-Star break, though progress will dictate any acceleration. Burnes prioritizes command to ensure sharpness upon return. 'My main focus through all of the catch play, through rehab and throughout the rest of my rehab is all about commanding the baseball,' he stated. 'Once I'm back in a game, it's like I never left off knowing the pitch shapes.' Recovery timelines vary among pitchers post-Tommy John, with many needing time to regain full feel after games resume.