Corbin Carroll connected for his first home run of Cactus League play, one of two hard-hit balls the Diamondbacks’ star delivered on Wednesday, March 18, against the Chicago Cubs and right-hander Edward Cabrera.
For Carroll, whose start to camp was delayed following surgery last month for a broken hamate bone in his right hand, it was his best day yet of the four games he has played.
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Carroll swung an Axe handle bat — which features no knob on the end — in his first few games but switched to a standard bat against the Cubs. He made the move, he said, because he was no longer feeling discomfort in the hand.
“I just feel a little bit more comfortable with my knob,” Carroll said. “Switching back, I felt like something clicked right away.”
In his first at-bat, Carroll hit a 106.6 mph liner to right field. Two at-bats later, he launched an opposite-field homer at 105.5 mph that went 410 feet.
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Arizona Diamondbacks Jordan Lawlar catches a fly ball during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks Jordan Lawlar catches a fly ball during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) rounds the bases after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno (14) bats against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Alek Thomas (5) runs to second base after hitting a double against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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D. Baxter the Bobcat, the Arizona Diamondbacks mascot, signs autographs during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) reacts after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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The Arizona Diamondbacks take the field against the Colorado Rockies during the spring training season opener at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run over Colorado Rockies left fielder Zac Veen (13) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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The Salt River Pima – Maricopa Indian Community traditional dancers perform at the Arizona Diamondbacks spring training season opener at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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A fan and her dog cheer for the Arizona Diamondbacks during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas (5) signs autographs during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Colorado Rockies pitcher Juan Mejia (47) throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Fans watch the action on the left field lawn as the Colorado Rockies host the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Andrew Hoffmann (56) throws to the Colorado Rockies in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) reacts after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas (5) catches a fly ball from Colorado Rockies’ Edouard Julien (6) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Philip Abner (50) takes the mound against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
Some hitters say opposite-field home runs are a sign that they are dialed in at the plate. Carroll took the opposite viewpoint, saying it told him what he needed to work on.
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“Just make sure that I’m able to pull the ball in the air,” he said. “That’s what I’ll be working on now.”
He said of opposite-field homers: “Those are great, but I think, definitely don’t want to rely on those too much.”
Carroll, who has been serving as the designated hitter, is expected to make an appearance in right field during a minor league game this weekend and likely will play the outfield in at least one of the games next week when the Diamondbacks face the Cleveland Guardians at Chase Field.
Diamondbacks 16, Cubs 8
At Salt River Fields
At the plate: The Diamondbacks collected 17 hits and five walks, slamming three homers and getting another five doubles. Though 2B Ketel Marte and C Gabriel Moreno did not play, it was the closest thing to a normal lineup they have had since the World Baseball Classic got underway earlier this month. CF Alek Thomas and DH Corbin Carroll each hit their first home run of the spring while RF Jorge Barrosa hit his second. SS Geraldo Perdomo and 1B Carlos Santana had two hits apiece, and 3B Nolan Arenado doubled and walked.
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On the mound: RHP Merrill Kelly gave up two runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings with no walks and no strikeouts. He considered the day a win of sorts, considering he woke up feeling under the weather but still managed to get to his pitch count. Kelly, who will open the year on the injured list, expects to pitch three more times before potentially coming off the injured list a couple of weeks into the season. After Kelly, two pitchers vying for bullpen spots had rough days in RHP Joe Ross (three runs, 1 1/3 innings) and RHP Kade Strowd (three runs in two-thirds of an inning). RHP Juan Morillo was impressive again, retiring all four batters he faced with three strikeouts.
Extra bases: Seeing his first game action this spring at a position other than center field, LF Jordan Lawlar had a ball hit to him on the first play of the game – and dropped it. Lawlar seemed to track it all the way despite the sun, then had the ball pop out of his glove. He quickly redeemed himself two batters later when he made a challenging catch at the wall on a drive off the bat of LF Michael Conforto. Strangely, Cubs RF Matt Shaw — who hit the ball Lawlar dropped — did the same thing in the bottom of the first, dropping a liner hit right at him by DH Corbin Carroll.
Next game, Thursday, March 19: Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka vs. White Sox TBA, 6:05 p.m., Camelback Ranch.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Corbin Carroll swats 1st homer as Arizona Diamondbacks rout Cubs