Corbin Carroll, a key outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, is expected to miss an extended period after sustaining a chip fracture in his left wrist. The injury occurred last Wednesday when Carroll was struck by a pitch, and the team announced he will be placed on the injured list starting Tuesday. The exact timeline for his return remains unclear as the injury has yet to respond well to initial treatment efforts.
Carroll’s Injury Progress and Recovery Challenges
Carroll expressed frustration over the slow healing process, noting,
“Unfortunately, it’s not responding as quickly as I would like,”
and added,
“Just something we’ve got to give it time. We were pretty aggressive the last two days in terms of trying to get back in there. It didn’t respond the best. Just take it a little bit easier today and see what happens.”
These remarks highlight the difficulties in managing chip fractures, which typically require several weeks of recovery.
Context of Similar Injuries in Baseball
Wrist fractures from being hit by a pitch are serious concerns in baseball. For comparison, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees suffered a similar chip fracture to his wrist in 2018 and was sidelined for approximately two months. Although the Diamondbacks have not released a specific return date for Carroll, the nature of such fractures often demands extended rest and rehabilitation before players can safely resume action.
Carroll’s Impact on the Team This Season
At 24 years old, Corbin Carroll has been one of MLB’s standout talents this year. He is batting .255 with an on-base percentage of .341 and a slugging percentage of .573, along with 20 home runs and 10 stolen bases. Carroll also leads the league with nine triples and ranks seventh among all position players with a 3.5 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), according to FanGraphs. His blend of power and speed makes him crucial to Arizona’s lineup and difficult to replace.
Diamondbacks’ Roster Adjustments Following Carroll’s Injury
To fill the void left by Carroll, the Diamondbacks will be recalling outfielder Jake McCarthy from Triple-A. McCarthy has shown flashes of promise, including a .285/.349/.400 slash line and 25 stolen bases during the 2024 season, though he faced struggles earlier in the year that resulted in his demotion. He will join Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Alek Thomas, and Randal Grichuk as part of Arizona’s outfield options moving forward.
Additional Injuries Complicate Arizona’s Season
Carroll is the latest in a series of significant injuries plaguing the Diamondbacks. Pitcher Corbin Burnes underwent Tommy John surgery last month, while relievers Justin Martinez and AJ Puk are also sidelined with elbow injuries requiring reconstruction. Catcher Gabriel Moreno remains out due to a fractured finger. In total, the team currently has ten players on the injured list, creating challenges for maintaining roster competitiveness.
Team’s Current Performance Amid Injuries
Despite these setbacks, the Diamondbacks secured a dominant 10-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday, marking their ninth win in the last 13 games. With a 40-38 record, they are positioned 2½ games behind for the third wild-card spot, underscoring the urgency to maintain momentum while navigating through an injury-plagued season.