A top-tier ace isn’t just another arm in the rotation. They’re the player that stops losing streaks, sets the tone in the playoffs and brings elite talent to the mound every fifth day.
That’s why the Arizona Diamondbacks shelled out $210 million across six years to right-handed pitcher Corbin Burnes this past offseason.
But in ESPN MLB insider Kiley McDaniel’s ranking of the top 12 aces in baseball two weeks into the season, formulated by his opinion and the thoughts from scouts and front office executives, Burnes finds himself in the second tier (No. 9) of hurlers.
Where Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Burnes falls in McDaniel’s ace rankings
Burnes is unique among this group of pitchers, relying on a cutter as his primary pitch as part of a supinator’s arsenal. He’s in the first year of a six-year, $210 million deal and has had a rocky first two starts, but has four-plus years of bulk innings at a front-line starter level. Burnes is now 30 years old and the velo of his cutter is starting to slip, so his effectiveness in the first half of this season is something to monitor.
Burnes has made two starts on the road to begin his Diamondbacks career against the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals.
His debut with Arizona was delayed until the fifth game of the season, as manager Torey Lovullo blamed himself for mismanaging Burnes’ Opening Day preparation.
Corbin Burnes strikes out the first two batters he faces as a member of the @Dbacks! pic.twitter.com/SSEAac2PSq
— MLB (@MLB) April 1, 2025
In those two starts, Burnes posted a 5.79 ERA, allowing six earned runs and 11 hits. He also struck out 11 batters and walked seven.
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Despite the shaky numbers, Burnes showed he can handle a heavy workload, throwing at least 89 pitches in both outings. Since 2022, he has been among the top 5 in innings pitched across MLB. Last season, Brandon Pfaadt led all D-backs starters with 181.2 innings pitched. Burnes, then with the Orioles, logged 194.1 innings — sixth most in the majors.
This season, Burnes’ cutter velocity averages 93.8 mph, down from 95.3 mph last year. He has thrown the pitch 66% of the time to start the season, compared to a 45% usage rate in 2024.
McDaniel listed the dip in velocity as a concern, though it’s still way too early to freak out over the 2021 NL Cy Young winner’s start to the year.
Burnes is scheduled to make his home debut Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers in the second game of that series.
You can hear all the action beginning at 5:10 p.m. on the Arizona Sports app, 98.7 and ArizonaSports.com.
Here is how the rest of McDaniel’s list plays out:
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel’s ace rankings
Tier 1: Slam dunk aces
1. Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers
2. Paul Skenes, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
3. Zack Wheeler, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
4. Garrett Crochet, LHP, Boston Red Sox
5. Chris Sale, LHP, Atlanta Braves
6. Framber Valdez, LHP, Houston Astros
Tier 2: Second-tier aces
7. Cole Ragans, LHP, Kansas City Royals
8. Logan Gilbert, RHP, Seattle Mariners
9. Corbin Burnes, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
10. Dylan Cease, RHP, San Diego Padres
11. Cristopher Sanchez, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies
12. Spencer Strider, RHP, Atlanta Braves
Aces that just missed the cut
– Hunter Greene, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
– Tyler Glasnow, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
– Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
– Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP, Atlanta Braves
– Blake Snell, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
– Logan Webb, RHP, San Francisco Giants
– Max Fried, LHP, New York Yankees
– Michael King, RHP, San Diego Padres
– George Kirby, RHP, Seattle Mariners
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