Corbin Burnes
A master craftsman on the mound who transformed from a struggling reliever into one of baseball's most feared and precise starting pitchers.
Born 1994 (age 32)·American baseball player·Birthday: October 22·Millennials
Biography
Corbin Burnes' story is one of radical reinvention. Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers out of Saint Mary's College, his early career was defined by promise and profound struggle. In 2019, as a reliever, he tied an unfortunate MLB record by allowing a home run in seven consecutive appearances. Instead of unraveling, Burnes embarked on a complete overhaul. He shelved his ineffective fastball, doubled down on a devastating cutter, and refined a sweeping slider. The result was a phoenix-like rise. By 2021, he was the National League's Cy Young Award winner, posting a microscopic earned run average and a historic strikeout-to-walk ratio. Burnes embodies the modern pitching archetype: a control artist with wipeout stuff, whose trade to Baltimore and subsequent move to Arizona have been seismic events, marking him as a true ace capable of altering a franchise's trajectory.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Corbin was born in 1994, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Corbin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1994
#1 Movie
The Lion King
Best Picture
Forrest Gump
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Corbin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1994Born
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1999Started school
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2007Became a teenager
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Could drive
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2012Could vote
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Turned 21
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2024Turned 30
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 32 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the National League Cy Young Award in 2021 after a season with a 2.43 ERA and 234 strikeouts.
- Set a modern MLB record in 2021 by striking out 58 batters before issuing his first walk of the season.
- Was named an MLB All-Star in 2021, 2022, and 2023, confirming his status as an elite pitcher.
- Pitched eight no-hit innings for the Milwaukee Brewers against the Cleveland Guardians in 2021.
Did You Know?
He and fellow pitcher Josh Hader were traded together from the Brewers to the Orioles in 2023.
Burnes is an avid fly fisherman during the baseball offseason.
He attended the same high school (Centennial High in Bakersfield, CA) as MLB star Blake Snell.
“You have to be able to make adjustments. That's what this game is all about.”
