Corbin Carroll's chaos: Arizona rookie becomes first to post 25 homer-50 steal season

Come the end of the 2023 MLB season, Arizona Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll will be awarded the National League's Rookie of the Year Award. But in the meantime, he's going to continue making history as Arizona chases postseason baseball.

Carroll on Wednesday became the first rookie in MLB history to hit 25 home runs and steal 50 bases in his first full season. The 23-year-old outfielder has gone from strength during the long 2023 campaign, but he might just be saving his best for last -- he posted a four-hit afternoon at Chase Field on Wednesday, swiping two bases and hitting a home run late in the game.

Speed kills, Corbin thrills

Carroll's breakneck speed has wowed fans since he debuted in MLB last year. But the wider baseball world has taken notice in the Seattle native's first full season with the Diamondbacks, who selected him 16th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft.

By stealing two more bases against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, Carroll became the third player this season to steal at least 50 bases, and he sured Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout's mark of 49 steals as a rookie in 2012. Trout hit more home runs that season than Carroll has in 2023, but the Diamondbacks All-Star has now bested him on the basepaths.

Before the season began, Arizona inked Carroll to an eight-year, $111 million extension -- securing his long-term future as the Diamondbacks seek to contend in the National League for years to come. The contract already appears to be a bargain.

Carroll slugs a homer in a big win

Leading off the bottom of the seventh inning on Wednesday, Carroll took the first delivery from Giants reliever Ryan Walker and crushed it to right field to extend Arizona's lead. Number two hitter Ketel Marte followed with a home run of his own, and the Diamondbacks went on to win 7-1 -- sweeping the quick two-game series with San Francisco.

The Diamondbacks improved to 81-72 after Wednesday's victory, their fifth consecutive win. Two seasons after losing 110 games, Arizona now has a one-game lead over the Chicago Cubs for the second wild-card playoff berth in the National League.

Carroll and co. have also expanded their lead over fellow wild-card chasers Miami and Cincinnati -- and as the 2023 regular season enters its final week, the Diamondbacks are in a good position to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2017.