Given the Arizona Diamondbacks have made it this far, it’s because several pieces on the roster have contributed.
However, there is nothing wrong with naming the five people who have had the most evident impact on the 2023 success: Mike Hazen, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Christian Walker, and Corbin Carroll.
Hazen is the general manager and the man responsible for putting together the talented D-Backs roster.
Gallen and Kelly headlined the rotation and finished with a 3.29 and 3.47 ERA, respectively.
Walker hit 33 home runs and drove in 103 runs, serving as the team’s main run producer.
However, if fans were asked about the most important D-Back in 2023, most of them would probably tell you it’s Carroll.
It may not be particularly close.
Since the season started, he has done nothing but dominate, and good things keep happening to him.
“Corbin Carroll in his rookie season: • signed 8-year/$111M extension • first rookie in MLB history with 25 HR/50 SB • All-Star Game starter • (likely) NL Rookie of the Year • led D-Backs to first playoff app since 2017 • NLCS appearance. He turned 23 years old in August,” MLB analyst Danny Vietti tweeted.
Corbin Carroll in his rookie season:
• signed 8-year/$111M extension
• first rookie in MLB history with 25 HR/50 SB
• All-Star Game starter
• (likely) NL Rookie of the Year
• led D-Backs to first playoff app since 2017
• NLCS appearanceHe turned 23 years old in August. pic.twitter.com/032r0NMCSq
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) October 12, 2023
His breakout performance earned him a lucrative extension and will likely result in the NL Rookie of the Year award.
As a 23-year-old, he had a .868 OPS with 25 home runs, 30 doubles, 10 triples, and 54 stolen bases.
He also scored 116 runs; and if it wasn’t for the foursome of Ronald Acuna Jr., Mookie Betts, Matt Olson, and Freddie Freeman, he probably would win the MVP award too.
He is the heart and soul of Arizona, and has kept up his production in the postseason.
In five games, he is hitting a brilliant .412/.565/.824 with a home run, two stolen bases, and a 1.389 OPS in October.
The D-Backs haven’t lost any of those five games.
As long as Carroll is healthy and producing, it won’t matter if the D-Backs are favored to win or not: they will have a chance.
The post Corbin Carroll Is Having A Rookie Season For The Ages appeared first on The Cold Wire.