frequently talks with Brandon Pfaadt<\/a>. Pfaadt recently started throwing a cutter more often to tunnel his sinker and has thrown back-to-back quality starts.<\/p>\nThe cutter is Burnes\u2019 go-to pitch, and he was alerted when the plan was for Pfaadt to start throwing more of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had some questions about it,\u201d Burnes said. \u201cEvery time he pitches, I talk to him about it, just see how he feels and what he\u2019s kind of learning from it. \u2026 It\u2019s one of those things that you learn what you can do differently with it every time you pitch. He\u2019s done great with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been an injured player and it can be depressing at times, but when you come around your teammates and your coaches, it makes you feel good,\u201d Lovullo said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s what I\u2019m asking for. And (Burnes) has been great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Burnes has a long road ahead before he can get back on the mound. He\u2019s not only out for the remainder of the 2025 season, but his entire 2026 campaign is threatened as well. A return in the second half of next season is the best-case scenario.<\/p>\n
Burnes joked that he\u2019d be ready by Opening Day 2026, but he\u2019s looking at sometime around the All-Star break as a more realistic possibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cElbow, shoulder injuries in general have been up a lot the last couple years. I couldn\u2019t tell you the reason why, I\u2019ve got a lot of theories, but I\u2019ll keep that out of the media for a while,\u201d Burnes said. \u201cIt sucks that I just signed here and was throwing the ball really well and then it happened. \u2026 You\u2019re not immune to it, it happens in this game. Just have to do my best to rehab from it and make sure it never happens again.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the time being, he gets to spend more time at home with his young children, although his son, Carter, keeps asking if he can go back to Chase Field and hang out in the clubhouse.<\/p>\n
Diamondbacks notes<\/p>\n
\u2013 Relievers Jalen Beeks (lower back inflammation) and Shelby Miller (right flexor strain) threw bullpens on Saturday of 23 and 24 pitches, respectively, as they work back from the injured list. Lovullo said they are further along than Ryan Thompson (scapular strain), who has yet to throw off a mound but has started his throwing program.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Infielders Pavin Smith (oblique strain) and Ildemaro Vargas (fractured foot) have started taking dry swings. Smith has been able to do cardio and work on infield hands drills. Vargas has taken standing ground balls. Catcher Gabriel Moreno will get a CT scan this upcoming week.<\/p>\n
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