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Three players who must improve for Diamondbacks to contend in 2024

Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Corbin Carroll. Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Three players who need to improve for the Diamondbacks to contend in 2024

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated 5/8/24

A fifth of the way into the 2024 MLB season, there have been plenty of surprise teams to start the season, and some have gotten off to disappointing starts.

One of those teams is the Arizona Diamondbacks, currently 16-20 and in third place in the National League West. After a magical run to the World Series last season, the players must figure things out quickly if they want a chance at another playoff run.

Here are three players who need to produce for the Diamondbacks if they want a chance to turn things around in 2024.

Corbin Carroll, outfielder

2024 stats: .211/.300/.278, two home runs, 12 RBI and eight stolen bases in 34 games played

The reigning National League Rookie of the Year Award winner, Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll has gotten off to a slow start at the plate in 2024.

Carroll finished 2023 with a .285/.362/.506 slash line with 25 home runs, 76 RBI and 54 stolen bases while playing an integral role in the Diamondbacks' playoff run.

With the expectations to build off of his strong debut season, things haven't panned out so far.

The 23-year-old is slashing .211/.300/.278 with five extra-base hits, 12 RBI and 27 strikeouts in 34 games played.

Corbin Carroll got pretty specific here on what’s gone wrong at the plate:

“I made my swing too flat, and so it's been a lot of work to try and create better attack angles and a better vertical bat angle." pic.twitter.com/amwyI1K5xB
— Jesse Friedman (@JesseNFriedman) May 5, 2024

Seen as the face of the franchise, the Diamondbacks can't afford for him to continue his regression and will hope he picks up his play as they try to chase down the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr., outfielder

2024 stats: .234/.276/.387, five home runs and 22 RBI in 32 games played

Another key contributor to the Diamondbacks' 2023 playoff run, Gurriel got off to a blazing start this season.

During the first series of the season versus the Colorado Rockies, he slashed .471/.526/1.118 with three home runs and 10 RBI over the four-game set.

Since then, the 30-year-old has only managed to hit two home runs and drive in 12 runs in 28 games played and is currently in the middle of a 2-for-37 stretch at the plate.

Hitting in the heart of the order for the Diamondbacks, he has not been able to produce as they hoped he would after his promising start and has left the team searching for answers.

A career .277 hitter, the Diamondbacks will need him to show more consistency with the bat after signing a new three-year, $42M deal this past offseason.

Jordan Montgomery, starting pitcher

2024 stats: 1-2, 5.63 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and eight strikeouts in 16 innings pitched

One of the key pitchers on the team that beat the Diamondbacks in the World Series last season, former Texas Rangers left-hander Jordan Montgomery is off to a slow start.

Three starts into his tenure with his new team, Montgomery has struggled.

With a 1-2 record, including a 5.63 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and three home runs allowed in 16 innings pitched, the 31-year-old is on pace for one of his worst seasons as a starting pitcher.

After posting a 10-11 record with a 3.20 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and only 18 home runs allowed in 188.2 innings pitched with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Rangers, he was hoping to cash in on his career year in 2023.

After a weird offseason, that didn't happen and he is now trying to pick up the pieces with his new team.

The Diamondbacks will need him to turn things around if they want to have a shot at the postseason in 2024.

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