Corbin Burnes Bio
Corbin Brian Burnes is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on October 22, 1994, in Bakersfield, California, Burnes has built a reputation as one of the league’s most commanding power pitchers. He is a four-time All-Star and won the National League (NL) Cy Young Award in 2021, marking him as one of the top starters in the game. Across his career, Burnes has led the National League in earned run average, strikeouts, and other major categories.
Early Life and Background
Corbin Brian Burnes was born on October 22, 1994, in Bakersfield, California, and grew up in a close-knit family. He is the son of Rick and Kandi Burnes, who supported his early interest in sports. The Bakersfield area has long been a fertile region for West Coast baseball talent, and Burnes developed his game in that environment. His path to the major leagues began on local diamonds before he moved on to organized high school competition.
Burnes attended Centennial High School in Bakersfield, where he starred on the baseball team. In his senior year of 2013, he posted a 9–4 win–loss record with a 2.23 earned run average across 22 appearances, drawing attention from college recruiters. After graduation, he enrolled at Saint Mary’s College of California to play college baseball, continuing to refine his mechanics and build his durability as a starter.
Path to Baseball
At Saint Mary’s College of California, Burnes emerged as a polished college arm. In 2015, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the premier showcases for amateur talent. The following year, during his junior season, he recorded a 9–2 record with a 2.48 ERA in 16 starts, cementing his status as a top draft prospect.
After the 2016 college season, the Milwaukee Brewers selected Burnes in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft. The selection launched his professional career and set the stage for a rapid climb through Milwaukee’s farm system. Within two years, he would reach the major leagues, an unusually quick ascent that reflected both his talent and the Brewers’ confidence in his upside.
Corbin Burnes Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Burnes made his professional debut with the Arizona League Brewers and was later promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Across 35 and two-thirds innings between the two affiliates, he posted a 3–0 record with a 2.02 ERA, demonstrating the strike-throwing ability that would become his trademark. He started 2017 with the Carolina Mudcats before earning a promotion to the Biloxi Shuckers after recording a 1.05 ERA in his first ten starts.
He finished 2017 with a combined 8–3 record and 1.67 ERA between Carolina and Biloxi, earning Milwaukee’s minor league pitcher of the year award. Entering 2018, MLB.com ranked him as the Brewers’ second-best prospect, and he began the year at Triple-A Colorado Springs. His dominance in the minors gave Milwaukee a clear foundation for a future major league role.
Milwaukee Brewers Breakthrough (2018–2023)
The Brewers promoted Burnes to the majors for the first time on July 8, 2018, and he made his MLB debut on July 10, pitching two scoreless innings and recording his first major league save. He appeared in the 2018 NLDS against the Colorado Rockies, pitching four scoreless innings in relief and earning the win in the clinching Game 3, then closed out the Dodgers in Game 6 of the NLCS. The postseason exposure hinted at a bright big-league future.
His 2019 season was a struggle, as he posted a 1–5 record with an 8.82 ERA across 49 innings, eventually landing on the injured list with shoulder discomfort. Burnes reinvented himself in the shortened 2020 campaign, going 4–1 with a 2.11 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 59 and two-thirds innings, finishing sixth in NL Cy Young voting. The breakthrough foreshadowed the historic year that followed.
In 2021, Burnes reached his peak form. He struck out 40 batters without issuing a walk in his first four starts, then set the MLB record for most strikeouts to begin a season before a walk, surpassing Kenley Jansen with 58. He was named an All-Star, tied an MLB record by striking out 10 consecutive batters against the Chicago Cubs, and pitched the first eight innings of a combined no-hitter with Josh Hader against the Cleveland Indians on September 11, striking out 14. He finished 11–5 and led the majors in ERA (2.43), strikeouts per nine innings (12.6), home runs per nine innings (0.4), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.88). He won the NL Cy Young Award, becoming the third Brewers pitcher to claim the honor, and earned a spot on the 2021 All-MLB First Team.
Burnes remained an ace in 2022, going 12–8 with a 2.94 ERA and a league-leading 243 strikeouts over 202 innings. He signed a $6.5 million contract in spring training to avoid arbitration and was named Milwaukee’s Opening Day starter, later earning another All-Star nod. In 2023, he posted a 10–8 record with a 3.39 ERA and 200 strikeouts, was named an All-Star for the third straight year, and was a finalist for the NL Gold Glove at pitcher, an award that ultimately went to Max Fried for the third consecutive season.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2024)
On February 1, 2024, the Brewers traded Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for DL Hall, Joey Ortiz, and a compensatory draft pick. He made 32 starts for Baltimore in 2024, pitching to a 2.92 ERA and a 15–9 record with 181 strikeouts across 194 and one-third innings. He also made his fourth consecutive All-Star team, reinforcing his status as one of baseball’s elite starters.
After the 2024 season, Burnes became a free agent. Baltimore extended the qualifying offer of $21.05 million for 2025, but Burnes declined, opening the door for one of the offseason’s most anticipated free-agent signings.
Arizona Diamondbacks Era (2025–Present)
On December 30, 2024, Burnes signed a six-year, $210 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, signaling the franchise’s commitment to building around a frontline ace. He began the 2025 season in Arizona’s rotation, posting a 3–2 record and a 2.66 ERA with 63 strikeouts across 64 and one-third innings in 11 starts. The early returns suggested another dominant campaign in the desert.
On June 1, 2025, against the Washington Nationals, Burnes left the game in the top of the fifth inning after feeling tightness in his elbow. He subsequently underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the remainder of the 2025 season. Despite the injury, the Diamondbacks secured their long-term investment in one of the National League’s premier pitchers.
Driving Style and Strengths
Burnes is a power pitcher who has thrown six different pitches, including a four-seam fastball in the 94–97 mph range, a sinker at 95–97 mph, a changeup, a slider, a curveball, and a cutter. After 2020, he virtually abandoned his four-seam fastball in favor of his cutter, which became his dominant offering. During spring training of 2024, he added a second, harder curveball used primarily in strikeout situations, further expanding his already deep arsenal.
Notable Events and Milestones
Burnes’ signature moments include his record-setting 58 strikeouts to begin the 2021 season without a walk, his 10 consecutive strikeouts against the Cubs, and his eight dominant innings in the combined no-hitter with Josh Hader. He also delivered six shutout innings as the Game 1 starter of the 2021 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, and he has now represented the National League in four consecutive All-Star Games.
Corbin Burnes Career Wins
Corbin Brian Burnes has built a strong résumé of victories across every level of professional baseball. From his minor league dominance with the Carolina Mudcats and Biloxi Shuckers to his major league success with the Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, and Arizona Diamondbacks, he has consistently delivered quality starts. His 2021 Cy Young campaign stands as the defining chapter of his career to date.
MLB Highlights
Across his major league tenure through the 2025 season, Burnes has recorded a 63–38 win–loss record, a 3.15 ERA, and 1,114 strikeouts. He earned All-Star honors in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, and was named to the All-MLB First Team in 2021 and 2024. He has led the National League in earned run average in 2021 and in strikeouts in 2022, and he helped the Brewers reach the 2018 National League Championship Series as a key relief arm.
Other Wins and Performances
Burnes earned Milwaukee’s minor league pitcher of the year award in 2017 after combining for an 8–3 record and 1.67 ERA across two affiliates. He was a finalist for the NL Gold Glove Award at pitcher in 2022 and 2023, recognizing his .961 fielding percentage in 2022. He has also delivered on the biggest stages, including a Game 1 NLDS start in 2021 and four scoreless innings across two appearances in the 2018 NLDS.
Corbin Burnes Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Corbin Brian Burnes is the son of Rick and Kandi Burnes, who raised him in Bakersfield, California. The family supported his baseball development from a young age, and his California roots helped shape his path to Saint Mary’s College of California. His steady rise through the sport has been a point of pride for the Burnes family.
Personal Life
Burnes married his wife, Brooke Burnes, in 2020. The couple has three children, including a pair of twins, and they have built their family life alongside his demanding big-league career. Brooke has been a visible presence throughout his stops in Milwaukee, Baltimore, and Arizona.
2025 Season Performance
Burnes began the 2025 season as a cornerstone of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ rotation after signing a six-year, $210 million contract in December 2024. Across 11 starts before his injury, he posted a 3–2 record and a 2.66 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 64 and one-third innings, providing the kind of frontline production the Diamondbacks had hoped to secure. His early-season form placed him in the conversation among the National League’s top starters once again.
His campaign was cut short on June 1, 2025, when he left a start against the Washington Nationals with elbow tightness and later underwent Tommy John surgery. The procedure ended his 2025 season and set the stage for a careful rehabilitation and recovery process. Despite the setback, the Diamondbacks’ long-term commitment to Burnes signals their belief in his eventual return to ace form.
