Corbin Carroll Named National League Rookie of the Year
Tonight Corbin Carroll became the first ever rookie in Diamondbacks history to win a National League Rookie of the Year Award, winning unanimously with all 30 first place votes. With the first place finish for the award, not only does the superstar rookie earn a $750K bonus but the D-backs also get a compensatory selection after the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
Carroll, who entered the 2023 season as the No. 2 prospect on both Baseball America and Major League Baseball's Top 100 lists, was seen as the overwhelming favorite to take the award. 66% of MLB executives polled by MLB Pipeline writers, which include analysts, player development staff, and general managers, picked the D-backs rookie to win the award in 2023.
After impressing in his first 32 games in 2022, the D-backs signed him to a record eight-year, $111 million extension that has the potential to earn him $154 million over nine years. With that extension, the franchise has their superstar and face signed for the rest of the decade. The season saw Carroll put up incredible numbers, slashing .285/.362/.506 with 25 home runs, 54 stolen bases, and an average WAR of 5.7. The average WAR total edges out Brandon Webb (5.4) for the best rookie season in franchise history. Carroll would help the D-backs advance to the World Series, recording the final out of their National League Championship Series over the Philadelphia Phillies.
His most impressive feat came on September 19th at Chase Field against the San Francisco Giants. In that game he recorded both his 50th stolen base and 25th home run of the season, which made him the ninth ever player and first rookie to put up that type of season. That puts him in the company of Ronald Acuña Jr., Hanley Ramirez, Barry Bonds, Rickey Henderson, Eric Davis, Ryne Sandberg, Joe Morgan, and César Cedeño.
After his impressive, storybook rookie season, the D-backs have an opportunity to build around Carroll for sustained success in 2024 and beyond. Carroll is under control through the 2031 season, should Arizona pick up his ninth year option.
