AVONDALE, Ariz. — It has been just four days since the Arizona Diamondbacks ended their Cinderella playoff run with a loss to the Texas Rangers in the World Series. And for the first time since the D-backs saw their season end, 12News is hearing from rookie outfielder Corbin Carroll.
Carroll spoke while attending the NASCAR Championship race at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday and admitted that while losing is never fun, he understands how special playing baseball in early November is.
"I think overall, it’s just that it was an incredibly positive year," Carroll said. "So many great moments where I feel like we were able to exceed even our own expectations as a team, our staff’s expectations, our players’ expectations. I think a year like that, if you can’t enjoy it, there’s no year that you are going to enjoy. So, that’s all I’ve tried to do over this last, even this last month, over this playoff run, is just soak it all in and then not take it for granted because I don’t know when I’m going to get back here."
Carroll was a star for the D-backs in his rookie season hitting .285 with 30 doubles, 10 triples, 25 home runs and 76 RBI. He's a favorite to win the NL's Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award, which will be announced on November 13. No D-back has ever won that award.
One of Carroll's best attributes is his speed, which he used to steal 54 bases in the regular and five in the playoffs.
In the 2023 playoffs, Carroll hit .273 with one double, one triple, two home runs and 10 RBI.
Carroll will be with the D-backs for a long time, as he signed an eight-year, $111 million contract extension in the spring that would keep him in the Valley through at least the 2031 season.
"I love Arizona," Carroll said. "I decided I wanted to be here long term and commit to a little longer on my contract and I think that that was a lot of that decision. It was just I love Arizona and everything it has to offer."
And now that his rookie season has come to an end, Carroll said he has a little more free time on his hands and is looking for ways to fill it, which was one reason he went out to Phoenix Raceway for the NASCAR's Championship.
"I’ve always loved cars growing up," Carroll said. "But never so much like NASCAR or F1 and I think just growing up a little bit and having this offseason now, like, I need some hobbies now and NASCAR might be one of those."
The D-backs' first Spring Training game will be on March 23, 2024, against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale.
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