Corbin Carroll Undergoes Surgery for Hook Bone Fracture, Confirmed to Miss World Baseball Classic

Following the completion of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ pitchers and catchers spring training first day, manager Torey Lovullo was making his way to the gathered press when he ran into right fielder Corbin Carroll, who had checked in early.

"I think my hand is broken," Carroll said to him.

"Are you joking?" the Diamondbacks manager responded.

However, it was not a joke.

Carroll suffered a hook bone fracture in his right (non-throwing) hand while swinging during live batting practice. After just hitting a home run on the previous pitch and then fouling a ball off, he immediately looked down at his hand.

Carroll underwent hand surgery today, though the exact length of his absence is still uncertain. Optimistically, he might return around the start of the season.

It is confirmed that Carroll will be unable to represent Team USA in next month’s World Baseball Classic, a tournament he was very eager to participate in.

"When I spoke with him on the phone last night, the first thing he said was that he wouldn’t be able to play in the Classic," Lovullo commented on the situation.

The Diamondbacks undoubtedly want Carroll to recover quickly. Since being a first-round pick in 2019 and making his major league debut in August 2022, he has been a key offensive force for the team. In 2023, he earned the National League Rookie of the Year award and helped lead the team to the World Series. The two-time All-Star finished last season with a slash line of .259/.343/.541, an OPS+ of 140, and led the league with 17 triples.

In other words, he is an irreplaceable asset.

After learning of Carroll’s injury, Lovullo has already been considering adjustments to the outfield alignment. Left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. suffered a serious knee injury late last season and is expected to miss at least the start of the year.

One option Lovullo mentioned is moving Alek Thomas from center field to right field. The team is also considering trying out another first-round pick, Jordan Lawlar, who has played infield throughout his amateur and professional career, in the outfield, preferably in center field.

Who will man left field remains uncertain. The Diamondbacks also have Tim Tawa and Jorge Barrosa, who can cover all three outfield positions. Even if Carroll misses time during the regular season, Lovullo still has plenty of options available.

Carroll is the third player in recent days to suffer a hook bone injury, following Francisco Lindor of the Mets and Jackson Holliday of the Orioles, who were both diagnosed with the same condition.

"This is part of the game and has been around for a long time," Lovullo said about hook bone injuries. "We often see these kinds of injuries in baseball, though I’m not sure why exactly."

Injuries have been a persistent shadow over the Diamondbacks for the past 12 months.

Last year, the team lost ace right-hander Corbin Burnes, closer A.J. Puk, and Justin Martinez, all due to ulnar collateral ligament injuries, and they will each miss varying amounts of time this year as well.

When asked if he felt the team was unlucky again, Lovullo said, "I don’t play those mental games with myself. When we had so many injuries last year, I felt sorry for myself, so now I don’t even allow those thoughts, nor do I let the team dwell on them."

Veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado, acquired from the Cardinals during the offseason, was batting alongside Carroll when the injury occurred.

"He had just hit a home run on the previous pitch," Arenado said. "This injury is definitely frustrating, but it’s not a long-term issue. As long as he recovers properly, everything will be fine. He’ll be in great shape when he returns, and we’ll hold down the fort until he’s back."