Corbin Burnes Bio
Corbin Brian Burnes is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. Born on October 22, 1994, in Bakersfield, California, he debuted in the majors with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018 and has since built a reputation as one of the most dominant arms of his generation. A four-time All-Star and the 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner, Burnes is widely recognized for his power pitching arsenal and his ability to miss bats at an elite rate. Across stints with the Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, and Diamondbacks, he has remained a central figure in any rotation he joins.
Early Life and Background
Corbin Brian Burnes was born on October 22, 1994, in Bakersfield, California, to Rick and Kandi Burnes. He grew up in the same Central Valley city where he would later star on the diamond, attending Centennial High School. During his senior season in 2013, Burnes posted a 9–4 record with a 2.23 earned run average across 22 appearances, establishing himself as one of the top prep arms in the region. Those numbers caught the attention of college recruiters and helped set the stage for his next chapter in Northern California.
After high school, Burnes enrolled at Saint Mary’s College of California, where he played three seasons of college baseball for the Gaels. In the summer of 2015, he joined the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the most prestigious collegiate summer circuits in the country. Returning to Saint Mary’s for his junior year in 2016, Burnes went 9–2 with a 2.48 ERA in 16 starts, a season that convinced the Milwaukee Brewers to select him in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
Path to Professional Baseball
Burnes opened his professional career in the lower levels of the Brewers system, debuting with the Arizona League Brewers before moving up to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. In 35 2⁄3 innings between the two affiliates, he went 3–0 with a 2.02 ERA, prompting a promotion in 2017 to the Carolina Mudcats, where he posted a 1.05 ERA across his first ten starts. The Brewers soon pushed him to Double-A Biloxi, and by season’s end he had combined for an 8–3 record and a 1.67 ERA, earning Milwaukee’s minor league pitcher of the year honors.
Heading into 2018, MLB.com ranked Burnes as the Brewers’ second-best prospect. He began that year with the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox, but his big-league call-up arrived quickly. On July 8, 2018, Milwaukee promoted him to the majors, and two days later he made his MLB debut, pitching two scoreless innings and recording his first major league save. He closed his first season by appearing in both the NLDS and the NLCS, including earning the win in the clinching Game 3 victory over the Colorado Rockies and recording the final six outs of Game 6 against the Dodgers.
Corbin Burnes Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Burnes split the 2019 season between the rotation and bullpen, and the transition was bumpy. He allowed 11 home runs across his first three starts and finished the year with a 1–5 record and an 8.82 ERA in 49 innings, spending time on the injured list with shoulder discomfort. The shortened 2020 season, however, marked a turning point. Working primarily as a starter, Burnes went 4–1 with a 2.11 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 59 2⁄3 innings, finishing sixth in the NL Cy Young voting and signaling the arrival of his true potential.
Milwaukee Brewers Breakthrough (2021–2023)
The 2021 campaign was the season that defined Burnes. He opened the year by striking out 40 batters without issuing a walk through his first four starts, then on May 13 set an MLB record with 58 strikeouts before his first walk, surpassing Kenley Jansen. He was named to the 2021 All-Star Game and tied an MLB record by striking out 10 consecutive batters against the Chicago Cubs on August 12. On September 11, he pitched the first eight innings of a combined no-hitter with Josh Hader against Cleveland, 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), earning the NL Cy Young Award and a spot on the 2021 All-MLB Team.
Burnes signed a $6.5 million contract in March 2022 to avoid arbitration and was named Milwaukee’s Opening Day starter. That year he went 12–8 with a 2.94 ERA in 202 innings and led the majors with 243 strikeouts. In 2023, he went through a contentious arbitration process that resulted in a $10.01 million salary and a fractured relationship with the club. On the field he delivered again, posting a 10–8 record, a 3.39 ERA, and 200 strikeouts while earning his third straight All-Star selection.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2024)
On February 1, 2024, the Brewers traded Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles for DL Hall, Joey Ortiz, and a compensatory draft pick. He rewarded Baltimore with a strong all-around year, making 32 starts and finishing 15–9 with a 2.92 ERA and 181 strikeouts over 194 1⁄3 innings. He also earned his fourth consecutive All-Star nod. After the season, he declined Baltimore’s qualifying offer and entered free agency.
Arizona Diamondbacks Era (2025–Present)
On December 30, 2024, Burnes signed a six-year, $210 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, immediately becoming the new face of their rotation. He opened the 2025 season in strong form, going 3–2 with a 2.66 ERA and 63 strikeouts over 64 1⁄3 innings in his first 11 starts. On June 1, however, he exited a start against the Washington Nationals with elbow tightness, and he later underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his 2025 campaign.
Driving Style and Strengths
Burnes is a power pitcher who works with six offerings, including a 94–97 mph four-seam fastball, a 95–97 mph sinker, an 88–91 mph changeup, an 86–89 mph slider, an 80–83 mph curveball, and a 93–96 mph cutter. After 2020, he essentially shelved his four-seamer and leaned into his cutter, which became the foundation of his Cy Young success. In spring 2024, he also unveiled a second, harder curveball reserved for strikeout counts, giving him another weapon against opposite-handed hitters.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments include his MLB-record 58 strikeouts before his first walk in 2021, his 10 consecutive strikeouts against the Cubs, his combined no-hitter with Josh Hader against Cleveland, and his NL Cy Young Award that same year. He also became the third Brewers pitcher ever to capture a Cy Young, and later signed one of the largest contracts for a pitcher in Diamondbacks history.
Corbin Burnes Career Wins
Across his MLB tenure, Corbin Brian Burnes has racked up wins with three organizations, anchored by his Cy Young-winning 2021 season and durable workloads in 2022 and 2024. He has shown the ability to take the ball deep into games, lead his league in strikeouts, and deliver in high-leverage postseason spots for Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Brewers Highlights
Burnes’ first MLB win came in relief during the 2018 NLDS against the Colorado Rockies, part of a four-inning scoreless playoff stretch that included the clinching Game 3. His most recent wins in a Brewers uniform came during the 2023 regular season, when he logged 32 starts, a 3.39 ERA, and 200 strikeouts. Along the way, he earned three consecutive All-Star selections (2021–2023) and his lone Cy Young Award with the club.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of Milwaukee, Burnes produced a career-best 15-win season with Baltimore in 2024, helping anchor an Orioles rotation that reached the postseason. Earlier, his minor league run with the Mudcats and Shuckers produced a combined 8–3 record and 1.67 ERA in 2017, earning him Brewers minor league pitcher of the year.
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. His father’s name has been publicly credited as a key supporter throughout his rise from Centennial High School to the major leagues.
Personal Life
Burnes married his wife, Brooke, in 2020. The couple has three children, including a pair of twins, and the family has remained a central part of his life as he has moved between organizations.
2025 Season Performance
Burnes’ 2025 campaign with the Arizona Diamondbacks got off to a strong start, as he posted a 3–2 record, a 2.66 ERA, and 63 strikeouts across 64 1⁄3 innings in his first 11 outings. Working as a frontline starter, he quickly justified the six-year, $210 million contract he signed in December 2024. The season, however, was cut short on June 1, when he left a start against the Washington Nationals with elbow tightness and was later diagnosed with an injury requiring Tommy John surgery.
The procedure ended his 2025 season and will keep him out for an extended stretch of his new contract, although full recoveries from Tommy John surgery typically allow pitchers to return at full strength within a calendar year. For the Diamondbacks, the loss of their ace reshaped both their rotation depth and their postseason outlook, forcing the club to lean on its remaining starters while Burnes begins a structured rehab plan.
Looking ahead, Burnes remains a cornerstone of Arizona’s long-term plans, with five years still remaining on his deal after the 2025 campaign. His track record, including a Cy Young Award, four All-Star selections, and a 243-strikeout season, suggests he has the durability and stuff to bounce back once healthy.