Few rookies have emerged out of the gate quite like Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll has during the 2023 MLB season.
The 22-year-old outfield has been a one-man tour de force for the surprising D’backs, posting 2.0 WAR (wins above replacement) through 53 games, while hitting .290 with nine home runs, 22 RBIs and 16 stolen bases (in 18 attempts).
The Seattle native has more than shown himself to be worth the $111 million investment the franchise made prior to the start of the 2023 season and renewing interest in the Diamondbacks at Arizona sports betting sites.
BetArizona.com took a look at how fast of a start Carroll’s gotten off to, breaking down the rookie’s WAR to-date and comparing that data to others that have entered the league since 2012.
Best Rookie Position Player WAR By Year
Where Carroll Ranks Among Recent Top Rookies
Carroll is the odds-on favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year on BetMGM Sportsbook Arizona, coming in at +130. No. 2 contender James Outman of the Los Angeles Dodgers is +500.
Of the year-end WAR leaders among MLB rookies since 2010, Carroll’s projected year-end total of 6.11 would rank as the fifth highest since 2010 — coming in behind generational talents like Mike Trout (10.5 WAR in 2012), Aaron Judge (8.0 WAR in 2017), Jason Heyward (6.4 WAR in 2010) and Julio Rodriguez (6.2 WAR in 2022).
Both Trout and Judge are currently among the odds leaders for American League Most Valuable Player on Arizona sports betting apps.
Right now, Carroll is tied atop the MLB rookie leaderboard in WAR with Texas Rangers infielder Josh Jung, while the pair lead other top first-year players, such as Zach Neto of the L.A. Angels (1.4 WAR), Oakland A’s infielder Ryan Noda (1.3 WAR), New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (1.1 WAR) and Yankees infielder Anthony Volpe (1.0 WAR).
Carroll, who is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Majors behind Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson on FanGraphs.com, is currently on pace to top former D’backs pitcher Brandon Webb as the top rookie by WAR in franchise history.
Webb finished his first season in the Valley in 2003 with a 6.1 WAR, serving as the first of several noteworthy seasons for the right hander that included an NL Cy Young Award in 2006.
Whether Carroll will match Webb’s production remains to be seen, though D’backs fans can already see the rookie’s immense potential out of the gate — and bet on his prospects with Arizona sportsbook promos.
It’s worth noting no D’backs player has ever won the NL Rookie of the Year award, with Webb losing out to then-Florida Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis.
Carroll is on his way towards crashing through that ceiling, at least based on his production for Arizona through 53 games of the 2023 season.
