X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Corbin Carroll: Champ or Chump for Fantasy Baseball?

Corbin Carroll - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, MLB Injury News

Is Corbin Carroll a fantasy baseball sleeper, bust or neither? Is he a flash in the pan or will he thrive? Rick Lucks's deep dive into Carroll's 2022 fantasy value.

With September on the horizon, fantasy managers have officially entered the stretch run. This is the time of year when your standings page should be dictating the moves you're making, as it often makes sense to drop a more talented player for one who contributes in key areas you can gain points. Your rivals are doing the same, so pay attention to who they're dropping in case they can help you.

That also means that you shouldn't be rostering players based on talent alone. With top prospect Corbin Carroll making his big league debut last night, the knee-jerk reaction is to immediately add him to your team. He was the 16th overall selection in the 2019 Amateur draft and the consensus number-three prospect in baseball for a reason, right?

Carroll is immensely talented and appears poised to make an immediate impact, but the type of impact he makes may not help some managers chase a title or finish in the money. Let's discuss the 22-year-old's fantasy viability in his first campaign further.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

A Scout's Perspective on Corbin Carroll

Spoiler alert: scouts love Carroll. FanGraphs seldom attaches high present-value grades to prospects this young but gives him a 55-hit tool and 70-grade speed, a combination that bodes well for Carroll's ability to contribute on the bases right away. His power grades are less impressive with 30 game power and 45 raw power, both of which are projected to climb to just 50 in the future. Overall, Carroll is listed with a future value of 60.

As optimistic as FanGraphs is, MLB.com likes Carroll even more. There, he has a 65-hit tool and 70-grade speed, with 50 power right now. His scouting report notes that "he may always have more of a hit-over-power profile, but there's enough pop in Carroll's left-handed bat to project him for double-digit home runs in the big leagues." That might temper his long-term outlook a little, but the mere mention of "plus-plus speed is a game-changing tool" should make fantasy managers salivate.

 

The Limited MiLB Resumé of Corbin Carroll

Like most prospects, Carroll lost the entire 2020 season to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike most prospects, Carroll suffered a significant shoulder injury that limited him to just seven games in 2021. As such, his MiLB performance this year is all the data we have on him.

Carroll began the year with Double-A Amarillo, slashing .313/.430/.643 with 16 HR and 20 SB over 277 PAs. He struck out a little more often than you'd like with a 24.5 K%, but his 14.8 BB% suggests an advanced plate approach that will serve him well at the highest level. He also flashed strong raw power with a 29.1% HR/FB, though his 34.2 FB% wasn't high enough to take full advantage of it. His .379 BABIP was high as well.

The performance earned Carroll a promotion to Triple-A Reno where he hit .287/.408/.535 with seven homers and 11 steals over 157 PAs. The final line isn't quite as eye-catching, but the peripherals suggest that Carroll was even better against the more advanced competition. His K% fell to 22.9 while his BB% increased to 15.3. He elevated more baseballs though his FB% fell to 31.5 because his LD% increased from 20.5 to 27.2. His BABIP stabilized at .345, and his raw power remained good with a 24.1% HR/FB.

With strong power production at both MiLB stops, you might be thinking that the scouting reports above are too harsh on his power. This author doesn't think so though and the reason why is that both are extremely hitter-friendly. HAGERSTOWN in Amarillo makes Coors Field look like a pitcher's park, posting a 151 runs factor, 228 HR factor, and 127 BABIP factor in its debut season of 2019.

Reno is more of a normal hitter's park with a 114 runs factor, 99 HR factor, and 113 BABIP factor from 2017 to 2019. However, it's also part of what used to be called the Pacific Coast League: a notoriously hitter-friendly circuit where even the relative pitcher's parks are ultimately hitter-friendly. Per Statcast, Chase Field in Arizona suppresses homers with an 89 HR factor while boosting BABIP with a 103 singles factor, so Carroll's pop figures to suffer.

 

How Will Corbin Carroll Fit into Arizona's Outfield?

If there's a downside to Carroll getting called up, it's that the Diamondbacks were already running out three viable fantasy outfielders in Jake McCarthy, Daulton Varsho, and Alek Thomas. Carroll is definitely getting called up to play, meaning that fantasy managers could be losing the services of one of the others. McCarthy has been scorching hot of late, so it probably won't be him. That leaves Varsho and Thomas, with the latter most likely to lose time in this author's estimation.

However, this could be a complete non-issue if Ketel Marte's hamstring allows him to return to the field, freeing up DH for an outfielder and removing someone like Geraldo Perdomo or Emmanuel Rivera from Arizona's lineup instead. Josh Rojas can play anywhere, so the team has lots of options.

 

The Final Verdict on Corbin Carroll

Carroll has an elite prospect pedigree, a history of producing on the farm, and an advanced plate approach, which should give him a relatively high floor as he makes his big league debut. He also has game-changing wheels and a strong understanding of how to swipe a bag, posting a success rate of 87% (20-for-23) at Double-A and 85% (11-for-13) at Triple-A this year. If you need batting average, OBP, or steals, Carroll is an easy Champ since he's only rostered in 32% of Yahoo! leagues.

However, scouts don't think Carroll offers any power now and feel that he might be a 10-15 HR type in the future, meaning that he makes less sense if you're searching for help in the power categories. Your league standings will determine if Carroll is a good fit for your roster.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Player Profiles




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Alex Bregman

Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Chris Sale

Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Clarke Schmidt

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Nick Nash

Unlikely to Make Falcons Active Roster
Lane Johnson

in No Rush To Retire
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Blake Corum

has "Gotten His Speed Back"
Jarquez Hunter

Picking Up Rams Offense Quickly
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Kirk Cousins

Feels Misled by Falcons
Bijan Robinson

Says Falcons Have "Outlandish Goals" for the Running Game
Luther Burden III

Bears Expect Luther Burden III to be Ready for Training Camp
Cole Kmet

an Unlikely Trade Piece
Tony Pollard

Titans Hope to Balance Rushing Attack With Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears
Byron Buxton

Sitting Thursday
Quentin Johnston

Not Assured of Starting Role
Cordarrelle Patterson

on the Roster Bubble in Pittsburgh?
Shedeur Sanders

Not Assured of Roster Spot in Cleveland?
Wan'Dale Robinson

Hoping For More Downfield Opportunities
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice on Wednesday
Mike Trout

Homers Twice in Win Over Rangers
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leads Yankees to Victory
Salvador Perez

Crushes Two Homers in Win
Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Zach Tom

An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Trevor Williams

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Kyren Williams

Rams Not Willing to Pay Kyren Williams Top-Market Money?
Byron Buxton

Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Alex Bregman

has "Really Good Chance" to Return Before All-Star Break
Christian Kirk

the No. 2 WR in Houston?
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Expected to Return on Friday
Jerome Ford

the Likely Starter for Cleveland to Begin 2025
Chig Okonkwo

"Poised" for Best Season of Career
Xavier Watts

Falcons High on Xavier Watts
Xavier Restrepo

Training With Star Wideouts
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Carter Bryant

Struggles in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Drops a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder

Malevy Leons Logs Impressive Summer League Outing on Tuesday
Dalton Knecht

Collects 25 Points in Lakers Summer League Win
Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Bazley Drops 27 Points in Summer League on Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Chet Holmgren

Agrees to Rookie Max Extension
Alex Bregman

Not Returning Wednesday
Jhoan Duran

Unavailable Due to Illness
Shane McClanahan

Tosses Clean Frame in First Rehab Appearance
Jacob Wilson

Day-to-Day After HBP
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Reassessed Wednesday
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Malaki Branham

Traded to Washington
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Blake Wesley

Moves to Washington
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Kelly Olynyk

on the Move Again
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Anthony Davis

Recovering From Eye Surgery
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Cal Raleigh

Continues Historic Homer Pace Tuesday
Jacob Wilson

Exits Early On Tuesday With Left Hand Contusion
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
Luis Garcia

Fans Four in Rehab Outing
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF