Milwaukee Brewers: Checking in on Corbin Burnes

Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes was take off the Injured List on August 1st. However, he’s still in Triple-A. How is Burnes doing, and when will he return to the Majors?

Corbin Burnes was placed on the Injured List in mid-July with a right shoulder issue. He was taken off the Injured List on August 1st, but he’s still at Triple-A and working his way back. How has he been throwing recently, and is there any chance he returns to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019?

How’s Burnes been throwing recently?

Well, do you remember how Burnes posted a 9.00 ERA with the Milwaukee Brewers? He has an 8.31 ERA with the San Antonio Missions. This…hasn’t been Burnes’ year.

His last two starts with the Missions have been complete disasters. Burnes started on August 5th, and only completed two innings. He was tagged for six runs on eight hits and only managed one strikeout.

However, his effort on the 5th looks much better than his most recent start on August 10th. Burnes logged 2 2/3 innings, and was pummeled for nine runs on nine hits. He walked one and struck out one. Burnes needed 69 pitches to record eight outs, and 47 were strikes.

What’s next for Burnes?

Great question.

Burnes will continue to start for San Antonio unless he’s still feeling a few lingering effects from his shoulder injury. There’s nothing from the team to indicate that he’s still hurting, but the results speak for themselves. 15 runs surrendered in less than five innings in Triple-A from a pitcher as accomplished as Burnes is really unusual. He’ll continue to start for San Antonio for the foreseeable future, but he looks like a guy who could use another break.

Will Burnes return to the Majors this year?

It’s not looking good right now. Unless he can toss a quality start for the Missions, he won’t return to the Milwaukee Brewers. The only way he comes back now is if the Brewers fall out of contention, and want to get another look at him before the end of the season.

Burnes showed impressive success in his first trip through the league as a reliever in 2018. The Milwaukee Brewers moved him to the starting rotation this year, and he hasn’t been the same guy. A move back to the bullpen looks like the right move for Burnes. He looked so much stronger coming in for an inning or two, airing it our, and allowing Josh Hader or Jeremy Jeffress to take over than he did as a starter. Burnes clearly has a future in the Major Leagues, but it makes a lot more sense for him to rebuild his confidence in a role he’s had success in than it does to allow him to fight his way through a crowded rotation.