Arizona Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll had another setback amidst an already rough sophomore season. The 2023 NL Rookie of the Year, who's hitting .213 with just two homers, picked up an injury during Arizona's 12-5 win over the Chicago White Sox Sunday.
Carroll left in the seventh inning after feeling pain in his left side due to a throw from center field, via ESPN.
“Went to throw and just felt a pull feeling, not super painful, very general,” Carroll said. “But all indications are leaning to the positive. I hope to be out there for the Washington series.”
Carroll will get an MRI on Monday as the team determines the next steps.
Will the 2023 All-Star and Arizona turn things around this season, or will they continue their post-pennant-winning struggles?
The Diamondbacks need more standout performances on both sides of the ball
During the last nine games, Arizona has gone on one of the most unique runs in baseball history, via MLB.com's Sarah Langs.
“the Dbacks' last 9 games have been decided by 5+ runs, tied for the longest such streak since 1900, with:
1939 Yankees
1938 Yankees
1925 Cleveland
1911 Pirates,” Langs tweeted.
The team has gone 5-4, with a plus-three run differential over those nine games. It also has the same run differential across the entire season, with a 35-37 record.
The main reason the Diamondbacks are flirting with .500, rather than playing like pennant-winners, is their lack of All-Star-level performances this season. Second baseman Ketel Marte has been the best hitter, slashing .283/.348/.504 with 14 homers and 39 RBI. However, nobody on the squad is close to hitting .300.
Arizona is eighth in the league with a .251 team batting average, but just 16th with 72 home runs. For reference, the New York Yankees' star trio of Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Giancarlo Stanton have 61 homers between the three of them alone.
The Diamondbacks' pitching, however, has been even worse. Their 4.58 team ERA ranks fifth-worst in the MLB, and Zac Gallen has been their only starter with solid numbers. The right-hander is 5-4 with a 3.12 ERA through 57.2 innings pitched, with a 1.14 WHIP.
Mixing average hitting with subpar pitching is a recipe for a forgettable season. Last year, Arizona didn't have the strongest pitching, either, ranking just 20th with a 4.48 ERA. However, Carroll, Marte, first baseman Christian Walker, left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and catcher Gabriel Moreno all had standout seasons at the plate, helping the team to an 84-78 record and a deep playoff run.
Although Arizona's season hasn't gone as planned, the squad has plenty of time to turn things around. The team is just o.5 games out of the third and final wildcard spot, with 90 games left. However, to separate itself from the pack, players like Carroll need to prove that last year wasn't a fluke.
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