The Diamondbacks are facing a tough decision, as they may need to discard an X-ray machine and get a new one.
Star outfielder Corbin Carroll returned to the field last Wednesday, and while the first X-ray was negative, he had to sit out the following four games due to swelling.
It’s possible he could’ve come in as a pinch hitter during that time, but he didn’t make an appearance at all.
On Monday, the Diamondbacks sent Carroll for an MRI in Chicago. The results showed that the initial X-ray missed something significant—a chip fracture in his left wrist.
Now, Arizona is likely to place Carroll on the injured list, adding to an already challenging situation for the team, which is also missing key players like Ace Corbin Burns, Closer Justin Martinez, and Catcher Gabriel Moreno.
This situation marks the team’s second problematic experience with X-rays recently.
“It’s still a bit confusing for all of us,” remarked Diamondbacks manager Tory Lovullo, reflecting on the injury revealed after the seemingly clear X-ray. “It’s behind his hand. The impact from the ball hit the side of his hand. It just shows how hard these guys are throwing.”
Carroll got hurt after facing a 91-mile-per-hour sinker from Blue Jays reliever Justin Biele in the eighth inning of an 8-1 loss.
Lovullo hasn’t shared how long the 2023 National League Rookie of the Year will be sidelined.
Interestingly enough, this injury saga mirrors a troubling pattern with Moreno. He got hit by a pitch on June 6, and although the first X-ray was negative, he was later diagnosed with a hand injury.
After missing three games, he returned on June 10, only to injure his hand again on June 17, resulting in a hairline fracture that also requires him to go on the injured list.
Losing Carroll is a significant setback for the Diamondbacks, who are currently 40-38 and aiming for a playoff spot.
Prior to the injury, Carroll was among the top candidates for the NL MVP, with impressive stats including 42 home runs, 118 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases.
The team has already been struggling, especially on the pitching front, compounded by Burns’s decision to undergo Tommy John surgery. Martinez and fellow reliever AJ Puk have also suffered season-ending injuries.
Additionally, Eugenio Suárez, one of the Diamondbacks’ top hitters with 24 home runs, sustained a wrist injury and had to be removed from Monday’s 10-0 win against the White Sox.
Josh Naylor also faced a pitch that forced him out of the game, so if either one of them is out for an extended period, the Diamondbacks might need to look to their top prospect, Jordan Lawlar.
