DENVER — Corbin Carroll slammed into the fence, fell to the ground and immediately reached for his left knee.
For a moment on Saturday night, the Diamondbacks’ season appeared to hang in the balance. But for now, at least, the club is hopeful Carroll, their prized rookie outfielder, escaped without serious injury.
“I think we dodged a bullet,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said after the Diamondbacks’ 11-4 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. “It’s a left knee contusion. All the tests have come back very, very positive, and he’s day to day.”
Not only did Lovullo say the Diamondbacks have no plans to place Carroll on the injured list, they do not believe he needs to undergo medical imaging. It is not clear if he will be back in the lineup for Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the Rockies.
In the sixth inning, Carroll raced back in pursuit of a ball off the bat of the Rockies’ Ryan McMahon, then left his feet trying to make a leaping catch. His knee went directly into the left-center field wall, then he appeared to land awkwardly.
Carroll remained on the ground for a minute or so before being helped to his feet. He walked around the warning track area with trainers before making his way off the field.
Lovullo said he feared the worst as he made his way out to the field. He wondered if Carroll had hurt his shoulder or back, his knee or ankle. He said as more time passed the better the news got.
“He wasn’t saying much when I got out there, but the first thing I heard him say is, ‘I think I’m going to be all right,'” Lovullo said. “Corbin was trying to stay in the game. I just said, ‘Let’s get you in there and get you evaluated and see how we’re doing and live to fight another day.'”
Diamondbacks left-hander Tommy Henry said it was “as encouraging as it gets” to hear that Carroll had apparently avoided a significant injury. Not just for personal reasons — he called Carroll “the best guy” and “the hardest worker I know” — but because of what he means to the Diamondbacks.
“Obviously (he’s) a huge centerpiece to our team,” Henry said. “You all kind of hold your breath when you see him go down. Especially, you know, it’s just Corbin fashion, too, going all-out for a ball, doing anything he can to make a play. We’re glad he’s okay. We hope he’s back sooner than we think. Just grateful and hoping for good news.”
Lovullo said the club’s trainers performed basic tests on Carroll and came away believing he did not need to undergo an MRI. Carroll, too, was in good spirits, according to Lovullo.
“I went to spend a few minutes with him,” Lovullo said. “He’s in the training room right now. He’s very encouraged. He’s feeling very positive about what’s going on.”
Carroll, 22, has been a major part of the Diamondbacks’ offense through the first month of the season. He is hitting .309/.374/.536 with four homers and 10 stolen bases. He has been particularly impressive over the past week or two, settling into the No. 3 spot in the order against right-handed starters.
The Diamondbacks view him as a franchise player, having given him an eight-year, $111 million deal in March after he had played in only 32 major league games.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Corbin Carroll exits game with apparent knee injury