In a season where the Diamondbacks are struggling to stay afloat with a .500 record, the franchise has now faced a devastating blow. One that may derail their playoff aspirations. If you need a reminder of how crucial one player can be, just ask the Yankees or Dodgers what it’s like to lose your most dominant arm. Now, the Diamondbacks find themselves in the same boat.

Earlier today, manager Torey Lovullo delivered the worst news possible to the fans. The D-backs ace, Corbin Burnes, is out for the remainder of the season. For a team already walking a tightrope, this is a gut punch they simply couldn’t afford.

Well, it’s heartbreaking, but not entirely unexpected. We already noticed on Sunday that Burnes had signaled something to the training staff while he was on the mound. He left the game with what was later called an elbow discomfort.

Now, after multiple medical opinions, the outcome everyone feared has become reality. “This is a really tough day for the Arizona Diamondbacks, tough day for Corbin Burnes, but it is what it is. These types of things happen in this game,” Lovullo said.

Burnes is heading for Tommy John surgery! So, with a recovery window of 14 to 18 months, he’s officially done for the rest of the 2025 season. There’s a chance he could be back sometime late in 2026, but even that’s up in the air. This is a loss that will take the Diamondbacks some time to adjust to. With a pitcher like Burnes going off-charts, it’s not easy to maintain the tempo of the clubhouse.

So, was Burnes that valuable for the team?

Well, yes! Burnes has long been recognized as one of the elite arms in the game. Remember his 2021 season with the Brewers? That year, he took home the Cy Young and logged a 2.43 ERA over 167 innings. The scene is pretty much the same this year, too. He was cruising with 66 strikeouts and a 2.66 ERA, still under that magic 3.00 mark.

Simply put, when D-backs needed to stop the bleeding, Burnes was the guy they turned to. But now? That safety valve is gone, and that’s a massive void for the Diamondbacks to fill.

Despite boasting one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, the Diamondbacks’ pitching has struggled to stay consistent. They are ranked 24th in terms of ERA (4.76). Now, with Corbin Burnes officially out for the season, things just got a whole lot tougher. Who will step up to fill that massive void in the rotation?

The Diamondbacks have a tough job in hand

Given the current state of the Diamondbacks’ rotation, Ryne Nelson emerges as the most viable short-term replacement for Corbin Burnes. Well, not necessarily because he’s dominant, but because he’s the best option available under the circumstances. Other alternatives?

For starters, the rest of the rotation is either already locked in or underperforming. Merrill Kelly (3.43) has been steady, but Zac Gallen (5.13) and Brandon Pfaadt (5.51) have all had their share of inconsistency and injuries. Nelson (3.43), meanwhile, has been working in a swing role, giving him exposure to both bullpen and starter duties.

This flexibility has now become his strength. Moreover, for the Diamondbacks, what makes Nelson particularly valuable in this spot is that he has recent experience facing major league hitters and he has built up enough innings to avoid a sharp pitch count limit.

Well, you can’t expect him to match Burnes’ dominance, but in terms of stability and readiness, he provides the most seamless transition.

Simply put, Nelson may not be the long-term solution. But in a rotation struggling with injuries and inconsistency, he is the next man up. And right now, that’s exactly what the Diamondbacks need.