Hitting changes have helped Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll so far this season. He is off to a torrid start with the modifications he made to his hitting. He is holding his hands higher and has the bat more upright. His new approach has shown self-assurance and poise at the plate.
Second Half of 2024
The adjustments started in the second half of 2024. Among the tweaks, Carroll updated his swing approach. Then, in Spring Training this year, he concentrated on enhancement and fine-tuning to find a relaxed and secure spot. Those changes have shown a better hand approach, and, as a result, he’s significantly improved the quality of his hits.
Bat Speed
Carroll’s velocity when swinging the bat is up. His average bat speed so far this season is 75 mph, up from last year’s 73.7 mph. He is hitting the ball harder than ever with that added bat speed, a vital metric for assessing his raw power. That faster bat speed has shown his ability to generate more force. His contact quality and pitch detection have also impacted his performance. And, yes, it is leading to more home runs and extra-base hits.
Impressive Numbers
The left-hander put up impressive numbers through the first 15 games of the season. Carroll leads the team with five home runs, a .333 batting average, and a .425 OBP. He also led the team with 21 hits and scored 14 runs. His 1.123 OPS leads all qualified hitters in the National League.
Great Sign
Those adjustments and a different hitting stance have helped, which is a great sign for him and the team, especially with Ketel Marte out for several weeks and Jake McCarthy’s terrible start. On top of that, Eugenio Suarez is slumping, and the team is hitting just .244 without Carroll’s stats. His hitting has kept the team competitive.
Pitchers will adjust
Hitting changes have helped Corbin Carroll, and the early returns have uplifted him and given him more confidence at the plate. He will need to lean on his confidence as the season progresses. Pitchers will adjust their line of attack to contradict his new mechanics. Whether this will worsen his offensive performance or if he can continue to adapt to maintain his numbers.
Sample Size
He’s already hitting the ball hard and delivering impactful hits. And while the sample size is comparatively small, the statistics still hint that Carroll is taking the next step in his development as a hitter. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2023, he wants to become a persistent MVP candidate. Being a good-to-great hitter is a big part of that.
Focus on Hitting
The Diamondbacks are keeping Carroll in right field, which should curtail any distractions and allow him to focus more on his hitting. Overall, Carroll has set himself up well to flourish for the rest of the season. If the Diamondbacks want a shot at returning to the playoffs, they’ll need to depend on Carroll staying hot until the other hitters come around and through the rest of the season.
So far, he has been successful. If he can continue improving and adjusting to maintain that success, he and the team could see themselves in the postseason. And Carroll may well see himself on the MVP list.
Main Photo Credits: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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