From: Mitchell Leff (Getty Images)
In March, the Diamondbacks agreed to lock up their top prospect Corbin Carroll to an eight year, $111M deal. Fast forward three months, and Arizona sits at 41-26, just half a game back of the Atlanta Braves for first place in the National League. Arizona has done this on the back of their young superstar outfielder. Carroll is the overwhelming favorite to win NL ROY at -330 (DraftKings), and is fourth in MVP odds at +1500 (DraftKings). Carroll has a serious chance to become the first player to win ROY and MVP since Ichiro Suzuki in 2001.
From: Lynne Sladky (AP Photo)
For starters, he's the best player on one of the best teams in baseball. Narrative always plays a role in MVP voting, whether media heads like to admit it or not. The Diamondbacks have gotten off to this quick start because of their willingness to mold their play style to the skillsets of their young players. Players like Corbin Carroll and Jake McCarthy have led the charge in a small ball approach: get on base, steal a bag, take an extra base when able, and play fantastic defense. The DBacks are second in Outs Above Average and ninth in Defensive Runs Saved, the two most popular defensive metrics in today's game. Carroll is a fantastic defender and has already amassed three Outs Above Average this year, putting him the 87th percentile amongst defenders. His elite speed has made the transition into the majors quite easy for Carroll.
From: Megan Briggs (Getty Images)
Speaking of speed, he's one of the fastest in major league baseball. Carroll is in the 99th percentile in sprint speed according to Baseball Savant. He has an average sprint speed of 30.2 ft/s, and a home to first time of 4.07 seconds. Carroll also boasts 48 "bolts", a Baseball Savant term relating to anytime a player's sprint speed is at least 30 ft/s, which ranks fifth in all of Major League Baseball. His speed isn't just only on the spreadsheets; Carroll has already swiped 19 bags, which again puts him fifth in baseball.
From: Carlos Osorio (AP Photo)
Now let's look at the fun part: the bat. At 5' 10", 165 pounds, you would think Corbin slaps the ball out there without much pop. However, his unique batting stance and leg kick lets him stay compact throughout his swing, which allows Carroll to create a lot more power than his frame would suggest. Carroll's max exit velocity off the bat is 113.8 mph, which is in the top eight percent of the league. Corbin's already hit 14 home runs, and is currently on pace for close to thirty. His slash line is currently .313/.398/.599 with a .993 OPS (best in baseball). He ranks in the top 10 of every statistical category in terms of averages, further cementing his case as one of the best hitters in baseball.
From: Lynne Sladky (AP Photo)
Look, Corbin Carroll probably won't win MVP due to a certain outfielder in Atlanta, but he is quickly putting his hat in the ring for the award. He is an elite talent that the Diamondbacks were lucky to lock up so early. Carroll has the best OPS in baseball, and is nearly on pace for a 30 HR/50 SB season, something that hasn't been done since Barry Bonds in 1990. Corbin Carroll is a treat to watch, and I highly advise you tune into a possible historic season in Arizona.