By Mark Carlisle
Mail | X: @mwcarlisle

Two Diamondbacks, outfielder Corbin Carroll and second baseman Ketel Marte, are finalists for Silver Slugger awards, given to the top hitter in the league at each position. First baseman Christian Walker was not named a finalist.

The team is hoping to have a Silver Slugger winner for the first time since 2019 when Zack Greinke won the award for pitchers.

Marte faces Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies and Miami’s Luis Arraez for the second base award. Carroll will vie for one of three outfielder awards with Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., the L.A. Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber, San Diego’s Juan Soto and the Chicago Cubs’ Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki.

Walker was beat out by Atlanta’s Matt Olson, the L.A. Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman and the N.Y. Mets’ Pete Alonso. Walker had a case to be included over Alonso, with a higher batting average, on-base percentage and on-base plus slugging percentage than the Met, but Alonso had 13 more home runs and a slightly higher slugging percentage.

Arraez, who won the batting title and led second basemen in OPS and on-base percentage, will likely be the favorite at second base. Carroll was fifth among NL outfielders in OPS and slugging percentage. He adds offense with his 54 steals, topped only by Acuña’s 73, but it is unclear if or to what extent MLB managers and coaches consider steals when voting for the Silver Slugger award.

Arizona has 11 Silver Slugger awards in its 26-year history. The only second base winner was Aaron Hill in 2012. The Snakes have won an outfield award three time: David Peralta (2018), Justin Upton (2011) and Luis Gonzalez (2001).

Mark Carlisle
Associate Editor | Phoenix

mcarlisle@iniusa.org

Meet Mark

Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.

Community: Mark enjoys taking his young son to BabyTime at the Phoenix Public Library, to the OdySea Aquarium and to various sporting events around the Valley.

Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.

Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.

 

Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, son and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.