Former Rookie of the Year quickly returns to Diamondbacks lineup after broken wrist

Corbin Carroll is returning to the Diamondbacks’ lineup, as the club announced that the outfielder has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list.  Utilityman Tim Tawa was optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move.

Carroll last played on June 18, when he was hit in the left wrist by a pitch from Blue Jays southpaw Justin Bruihl.  The result was a chip fracture and a trip to the IL that officially began on June 21, but it appears Carroll dodged the bullet of a more serious injury.  Carroll felt good enough to play in an Arizona Complex League game on Thursday, and he took part in a live batting practice session Saturday.

Before he was sidelined, Carroll was enjoying a huge season, and a return to the form he showed in winning NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2023.  The 149 wRC+ Carroll has posted through 323 plate appearances this season is indeed even higher than his 132 wRC+ in 2023, and a big step up from his relatively disappointing 107 wRC+ last year.  Carroll is hitting .255/.341/.573 with 20 homers and a league-best nine triples this season, also contributing strong baserunning and (in the view of the Outs Above Average metric) plus defensive in right field.

Getting Carroll back so quickly is a huge boost to the Diamondbacks, who remain on the outskirts of the playoff race with a 43-45 record.  Arizona is 4.5 games back of the final NL wild card spot with three other teams sitting between the D-backs and the Padres, who hold that last wild-card berth.  The Snakes will have to make up some serious ground in July to more properly get themselves into the hunt and to potentially avoid a significant selloff at the deadline.