D-backs' Carroll makes rare rookie history with 40th stolen base

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll makes rare rookie history with 40th stolen base

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 8/27/23

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll continued his breakout rookie campaign by joining a rare group of first-year standouts on Sunday.

Carroll recorded stolen base No. 40, becoming only the fourth rookie with 20 home runs and 40 swiped bags. Carroll joins Los Angeles Angels star CF Mike Trout (2012), New York Mets CF Tommie Agee (1966) and Oakland A's DH/LF Mitchell Page (1977).

Meanwhile, Carroll is the second Diamondback, rookie or not, to reach 20 homers and 40 stolen bases. Outfielder Eric Byrnes was the first, tallying 21 homers and 50 stolen bags in 2007.

Corbin Carroll is the 2nd player in #Dbacks history and the 4th rookie in @MLB history to record a 20 HR/40 SB season! pic.twitter.com/wtHohMprxe
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 27, 2023

Batting out of the lead-off spot Sunday, Carroll finished 2-of-3 with a walk and two runs scored, helping lead the Diamondbacks to a 5-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

After a rough July, Carroll is having a better August. Through 24 games this month, Carroll is 23-of-82 with a home run, six RBI, 11 walks and seven stolen bases. Also, the 23-year-old has hit safely in six of his last eight games.

Carroll's feat might also be a good sign for his trophy case. Of the three other players to post 20-plus homers and 40-plus stolen bases in their rookie year, both Trout and Agee eventually walked away with Rookie of the Year honors. With September quickly approaching, Carroll is the favorite (-3500) to win the award, per Oddschecker.

While Carroll pursues hardware, the Diamondbacks still hope to secure a spot in the 2023 postseason. Arizona improved to 69-62 following Sunday's win, increasing their lead over the Reds (68-64) to 1.5 games for the third and final NL wild card spot.

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