Corbin Carroll is having such an exceptional rookie season (21 HRs, 57 RBIs, .282 batting average) that he is already considered the runaway leader for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

If it happens, he will become the first winner of the award in Arizona Diamondbacks history, which stretches back 25 years. The D-backs are the only current major league team with no winners, one shy of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies who have one apiece.

It would be another first for a team that entered the major leagues as an expansion franchise in 1998 alongside the Tampa Bay Rays (then Devil Rays). It would also be an achievement that will convince everyone in Phoenix that this endless summer of 110-degree temperatures was worth waiting out.

Who else has make a mark in his inaugural season with the D-backs? Let’s have a look.

Who is the #1 top prospect for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023?

The Diamondbacks’ No. 1 prospect is left-handed pitcher Yu-Min Lin.

Lin had some name recognition after competing for Chinese Taipei in the 2021 U-23 World Cup at just 18 years old, but he took off even more than expected in his first full season. The 5-foot-11 southpaw struck out 91 batters in 56⅓ innings between the Arizona Complex League and Single-A Visalia, showing off a nifty changeup and above-average curveball and slider. His fastball is only 89-92 mph.

Ranking the Top 10 Rookie Seasons in Arizona Diamondbacks History

  1. Dominic Fletcher, 2023 season

Position: Center field
Rookie Stats: .301 batting average, 2 HRs, 14 RBIs.

Checking in at No. 10 on our list is someone from this current Arizona roster, a 25-year-old from Orange, Calif., who was selected in the second round with the 75th overall selection of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. Dominic Fletcher was promoted to the majors on April 30 after Corbin Carroll suffered a left knee contusion, and he has made a good impression with a .350 on-base percentage in his 28 appearances.

  1. Stephen Drew, 2006 season

Position: Shortstop
Rookie Stats: .316 batting average, 5 HRs, 23 RBIs

A native of Hahira, Ga, Stephen Drew was selected in the first round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft with the 15th overall selection, and he made his major league debut on the same day as Tony Gwynn Jr. -- getting called up due to an injury to Craig Counsell. His first major league hit came against his brother J.D. Drew’s Los Angeles Dodgers team.

  1. Paul Goldschmidt, 2011 season

Position: First base
Rookie Stats: .250 batting average, 8 HRs, 26 RBIs

The 2011 season was the first time D-backs fans got a look at the youngster who would go on to become a seven-time All-Star. Paul Goldschmidt homered in his second day as a major leaguer, and he had a hit in his first major league at-bat.

  1. David Peralta, 2014 season

Position: Left field
Rookie Stats: .286 batting average, 8 HRs, 36 RBIs

Nicknamed “Freight Train,” the native of Valencia, Venezuela, was called up to the majors for the first time on June 1, 2014. He tied a Diamondbacks record by recording seven multi-hit performance in his first 15 games, hitting .328 with one home run and two RBIs. As good as 2014 was, 2015 was a breakout season for Peralta, who hit .312 and racked up 17 home runs and an NL-leading 10 triples.

  1. Micah Owings, 2007 season

Position: Pitcher
Rookie Stats: 8-8 record, 4.30 ERA, 106 strikeouts

When the Diamondbacks made it to the NLCS in 2007, Micah Owings, a native of Gainesville, Ga., was a key part of the rotation with 27 starts, two complete games, and one shutout. He also struck out 106 batters in 152⅔ innings. On Aug. 18, 2007, Owings went 4-for-5 with two home runs, four runs scored, and six RBIs. He became the first MLB pitcher to record four hits, four runs, and six RBIs in the same game.

  1. Erubiel Durazo, 1998 season

Position: First base
Rookie Stats: .329 batting average, 11 HRs, 30RBIs

When the D-backs made the playoffs in just their second season of existence, Erubiel Durazo, a rookie from Hermosillo, Mexico, made his debut on July 26 and stuck around for the next three years, although his best seasons came later with the Oakland Athletics.

  1. Wade Miley, 2012 season

Position: Pitcher
Rookie Stats: 16-11 record, 3.33 ERA, 144 strikeouts

Wade Miley, a native of Hammond, La., was selected in the first round, 43rd overall, of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft and was called up to the majors for the first time on Aug. 15, 2011. He would finish the 2011 season with a 4–2 record in eight games (seven starts). Since he had not exceeded 50 innings, Miley retained his rookie status for 2012 and was named the National League (NL) Rookie of the Month for April after going 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA. He also struck out 15 batters in 21 innings over two starts. Miley went on to finish second behind Bryce Harper of the Colorado Rockies in voting for NL Rookie of the Year.

  1. Ender Inciarte, 2014 season

Position: Center field
Rookie Stats: .278 batting average, 4 HRs, 27 RBIs, 19 stolen bases

The native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, made his major league debut on May 2, 2014, and recorded a hit in his first major league game. Ender Inciarte hit his first major league home run on July 5, and batted .292 with 40 stolen bases in his two seasons with Arizona before moving on to the Atlanta Braves.

  1. Brandon Webb, 2003 season

Position: Pitcher
Rookie Stats: 10-9, 2.84 ERA, 172 strikeouts

In Webb’s rookie season, the right-handed pitcher from Ashland, Kentucky struck out 172 batters in 180⅔ innings, a rate of almost one per inning -- something you just don’t see all that often from rookies. During his MLB career, Webb won the 2006 National League Cy Young Award and was a three-time All-Star. He was sidelined with injuries for much of 2009 to 2012 and, after several aborted comeback attempts, retired in 2013.

  1. Corbin Carroll, 2023 season

Position: Center field
Rookie Stats: .282 batting average, 21 HRs, 57 RBIs, 32 stolen bases

What makes Corbin Carroll special isn’t just the tools and all-around impact, but his ability to quickly make the proper adjustments. He has already cut down his strikeout rate significantly, going from 27.0 percent last season to 19.9 percent, while simultaneously improving his walk rate from 7.0 percent to 10.7 percent. That means he's not only making more contact, but also getting on base more, which allows him to use his elite speed as a weapon. Twice this season, he's had a game with two stolen bases and a home run. That's a feat that's only been accomplished twice since 1997, with Álex Rodríguez and Mike Trout being the other two. 

Parameters of Ranking

The D-backs have had more than their fair share of decent rookies. But exceptional rookies? Not so many, which is one of the reasons why the season Corbin Carroll is having is so special and why he has already jumped to No. 1. When you are looking at a team with only a quarter-century of history, there is a small sample size to choose from. Still, all 10 of these players were exceptional in different ways.

Related:

Bet on MLB Odds at Betway

Find MLB odds throughout the season on the Betway sportsbook. You'll find all the latest run lines, totals, money lines, parlays and MLB futures. Or call it how you see it with our live betting in-play. All your MLB betting needs are covered in our online sportsbook.

Visit Betway’s MLB picks page for best bets and predictions throughout the season.