“He’s Having the Most Disappointing Season in Baseball” — And Nobody Saw It Coming

Every MLB season has at least one hitter whose collapse blindsides the entire league. A player who was supposed to dominate, supposed to anchor a lineup, supposed to be one of the safest stars in baseball — but instead turned into the biggest disappointment of the year. There’s always one guy whose name still carries weight, whose résumé still buys him credibility, and whose fanbase refuses to admit what everyone else already sees.

This year, that player is Corbin Carroll — the Diamondbacks outfielder whose meteoric rise in 2023 made him look like a future MVP, a franchise cornerstone, and one of the most electric players in baseball. But 2024 hit him like a brick wall. Carroll is having the most disappointing season in baseball, and nobody saw it coming.

His Reputation Comes From Last Year, Not This Year

Carroll was supposed to be:

• A five‑tool superstar
• A franchise outfielder
• A top‑of‑the‑order weapon
• A future MVP candidate
• A player who elevates the entire lineup

But teams see something completely different now.

They see:

• A hitter who lost his power
• A hitter who doesn’t threaten pitchers
• A hitter who looks uncomfortable at the plate
• A hitter whose confidence evaporated
• A reputation built on last year’s breakout, not this year’s reality

Carroll’s name still sounds elite. His bat doesn’t play that way.

His Power Vanished Overnight

This is the part fans bring up constantly.

They’ve seen:

• Weak fly balls on pitches he used to crush
• Rollovers on hittable fastballs
• No lift, no pop, no intimidation
• A slugging percentage that fell off a cliff
• A hitter pitchers challenge because they know he won’t punish mistakes

Carroll went from a 25‑homer threat to a player who looks like he might not hit double digits.

And in MLB, if your power disappears, your entire offensive profile collapses.

His Speed Doesn’t Matter When He Can’t Get On Base

Carroll’s speed was supposed to be his cheat code. Instead, it’s irrelevant.

Fans see:

• Fewer stolen‑base opportunities
• No pressure on pitchers
• No chaos on the basepaths
• No ability to turn singles into doubles
• A player whose biggest weapon is neutralized by his own slump

Speed only matters when you reach base. Carroll isn’t reaching base.

Pitchers Don’t Fear Him — They Attack Him

This is where the disappointment becomes undeniable.

Pitchers see:

• A hitter who struggles with velocity up
• A hitter who can’t handle breaking balls late in counts
• A hitter who expands the zone under pressure
• A hitter who doesn’t adjust mid‑at‑bat
• A hitter who doesn’t force pitchers to change their approach

Opposing pitchers don’t pitch around Carroll. They don’t nibble. They don’t avoid him.

They challenge him — because they know he won’t beat them.

Other Young Stars Have Pulled Away From Him

This is the comparison fans make constantly.

They mention:

• Gunnar Henderson
• Bobby Witt Jr.
• Julio Rodríguez
• Elly De La Cruz
• Wyatt Langford

These players:

• Hit for power
• Hit for average
• Change games
• Terrify pitchers
• Show growth year‑to‑year

Carroll doesn’t do any of that consistently right now.

He’s the only “young superstar” whose game regressed instead of improving.

His Decline Hurts the Diamondbacks More Than People Admit

This is the part Arizona fans whisper about — but it’s getting louder.

They think:

• The lineup loses explosiveness without him
• His slump forces others into roles they shouldn’t have
• His presence no longer scares pitchers
• His at‑bats feel like automatic outs
• His regression lowers the team’s ceiling

Carroll was supposed to be the engine of the offense. Now he’s the stall.

His Name Still Sounds Bigger Than His Bat

The same line keeps popping up:

“He was supposed to be a superstar — but he hasn’t played like one for a single stretch this season.”

Fans believe:

• His rookie year inflated his legacy
• His postseason run created unrealistic expectations
• His highlights overshadowed his flaws
• His reputation is built on potential, not results
• His name carries more weight than his production

Carroll is the hitter whose brand is stronger than his impact.

Nobody Saw This Collapse Coming — And That Makes It Worse

This is the part nobody wants to say out loud — but everyone knows it’s true.

Carroll wasn’t supposed to slump. He wasn’t supposed to regress. He wasn’t supposed to look lost.

He was supposed to be:

• The next great NL superstar
• The face of the Diamondbacks
• The safest young hitter in baseball
• The guy who would dominate for a decade

Instead, he’s having the most disappointing season in baseball.

And the shock factor makes the disappointment even louder.

One More Season Like This Changes His Entire Career Arc

If Carroll has:

• Another year of disappearing power
• Another season of weak contact
• Another year where younger stars pass him
• Another season where he doesn’t elevate the offense
• Another year where he looks overwhelmed

He’s not elite. He’s not a cornerstone. He’s not a superstar.

He’s just another young hitter whose breakout didn’t last.

And in MLB, once a player gets labeled “disappointing,” that reputation sticks.

He Can Still Rewrite His Story — But the Pressure Is Crushing

Here’s what fans do agree on:

Carroll can flip the narrative.

If he:

• Recaptures his power
• Sharpens his approach
• Improves his confidence
• Delivers in big moments
• Proves his rookie year wasn’t a fluke

He can reclaim relevance.

But until that happens, people will keep saying:

“He’s having the most disappointing season in baseball — and nobody saw it coming.”