Sad News Hits Diamondbacks’ $18M Ace as Torey Lovullo Drops Heartbreaking Injury Update

The words hung in the air, heavy with a manager’s worst fears. A somber confirmation of a season-altering blow. The worry in Torey Lovullo’s voice was clear as the Arizona Diamondbacks manager painted a grim picture of a key pitcher’s elbow injury.

The 2025 Diamondbacks season has turned into a story of pitching horrors. The team’s combined ERA has risen to 4.76, a dismal 25th in MLB. This collapse is the direct result of a dual catastrophe that struck the heart of their staff in early June.

On June 1, 2025, the team’s season took a devastating turn when Corbin Burnes, their celebrated offseason acquisition, abruptly left his start against the Washington Nationals. The diagnosis confirmed a tear requiring Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the remainder of 2025 and likely the entire 2026 season. The loss was immense; Burnes had been performing exactly as the ace they paid for, posting a 2.66 ERA with 63 strikeouts over 64.1 innings.

Just nine days later, hard-throwing closer Justin Martinez—the team’s $18 million investment—walked off the mound with a similar injury, creating a full-blown crisis for the organization.

In a recent interview, Torey Lovullo laid bare the heartbreaking reality of the situation. “The concern is high,” he stated grimly. “He’s going to be lost for an extended period of time. It could be 13 months, it could be 12 months. But it’s something that’s looking right now that’s going to be very, very substantial and it’s very unfortunate.” The news was devastating, but the context Lovullo provided next was even more chilling, explaining why this injury was so perilous.

“He’s already had a UCL reconstruction,” Lovullo continued, confirming the player was facing a second major elbow surgery. “Based on that type of procedure, those last between three and five years. He’s a high intensity guy so he’s right in the bucket of it… of it having to be redone.”

Lovullo didn’t just focus on the medical side; he spoke of the human toll. “Tremendous loss to the Diamondbacks, not just because he’s a great pitcher. He’s just a great young man.”

Lovullo’s “high intensity” description perfectly captures Justin Martinez’s 2025 season. Before the injury, Martinez was a paradox on the mound. His stuff was electric, resulting in a dominant 32.8% strikeout rate. But there was a command problem, too, as his walk rate ballooned to an unsustainable 17.9%. Even though his 3.77 career ERA represents promise, the extreme volatility was a massive red flag. This profile of a max-effort pitcher trying to harness immense power aligns perfectly with the risks Lovullo outlined.

Diamondbacks’ costly pitching woes: A troubling pattern

This most recent stumble is part of a troubling and expensive pattern for Arizona. The organization has repeatedly made high-cost pitching acquisitions that have failed to pay dividends.

They are still digesting the five-year, $85 million Madison Bumgarner deal that ultimately ended in his release. Their $80 million investment on Eduardo Rodriguez has been marred by injuries and ineffectiveness. Now, the massive contracts for Burnes ($210M) and Martinez ($18M) appear to be the latest wagers in a high-risk strategy that has backfired spectacularly.

Nevertheless, amid this pitching apocalypse, the Diamondbacks are somehow keeping afloat with a .500 record. Their offense, however, has been a juggernaut.

The Snakes are an offensive powerhouse, ranking fourth in the league in runs per game at 5.09, while sitting third in on-base percentage and slugging. This offensive firepower has kept them from sinking entirely. But till when can this compensate for a depleted pitching staff? Especially in a division with the powerhouse Dodgers.

This latest development puts the front office in a precarious situation headed into the July 31 trade deadline. With their already slim playoff chances looking even worse, the most logical course is to be sellers. The Diamondbacks possess a wealth of attractive trade chips for contending teams. They could market former Cy Young contender Zac Gallen and the remarkably consistent Merrill Kelly to teams desperate for starting pitching. And productive veterans on expiring deals, such as Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez, might bring a haul of prospects that would help in rebuilding for the future.