👋 GOOD MORNING – Happy Friday everyone, you’ve made it to the end of another week.
There may not be much happening in the D-backs’ world these days (although the MLB stove has certainly been hot recently). But last night, MLB’s Top 100 Right Now countdown concluded, and Corbin Carroll was given a top-10 nod.
He’s one of three D-backs stars in the top 100 (take a guess who else), and the highest among those three.
Let’s talk about them!
— Alex D’Agostino, PHNX Sports Daily Editor
D-backs Earn Three Top-25 Spots
As long-suffering Valley sports fans well know, the D-backs are a team often snubbed for national recognition (even when they go to the World Series…), but that was not the case with MLB Network’s Top 100 Right Now list — at least, not with the three obvious choices.
SS Geraldo Perdomo, after placing fourth in NL MVP voting this past season, placed No. 24 on the list. He wasn’t ranked at all on 2025’s Top 100, so this is a big jump for him.
It was a big jump for the 26-year-old shortstop in general, as he hit to a career-best .290/.389/.462 slash, crushed 20 homers (more than double his total prior to 2025, by the way). He was seven-WAR player and set franchise history by becoming the first D-backs shortstop to record 100 RBI.
He’s also one of the more positive-energy presences in the organization, has been trusted with a leadership role at a young age, and is on a team-friendly extension through at least 2029.
Then, there was 2B Ketel Marte, who ranked No. 19. For all the drama, speculation and trade rumors surrounding the D-backs’ All-Star second baseman, it’s impossible to argue he’s not the best second baseman in MLB, and well-deserving of a spot in the top 20.
19 is actually the same spot he placed in last year’s top 100 despite turning in worse numbers than his incredible 2024 season (which makes one think he was exceptionally underrated that year).
In 2025, Marte was still quite elite. He hit .283/.376/.517, crushed 28 homers and was worth 4.5 average WAR… in a down season… It’s kind of hard to believe what he’s capable at his best, which is why it was wise of D-backs GM Mike Hazen to pull Marte off the trade market when the proper price was not met.
But the list would not be complete without OF Corbin Carroll. Carroll’s 2025 was awe-inspiring, especially considering the stark turnaround from his brutal 2024 slump. Carroll ranked No. 9 on MLB’s top 100. Yes, the D-backs have a top-10 player in all of baseball. Wild, isn’t it?
Carroll hit .259/.343/.541 for an .883 OPS (the best of his career). He hit a career-best 31 homers, stole 32 bases, and hit 17 triples — a new franchise record. He had 6.5 WAR, received some MVP votes, and has established himself as the young face of the D-backs.
All of this at age 25, and still with room to improve.
D-backs Honorable Mentions
Those three were the only D-backs on the top 100, but they weren’t the only members of the team worthy of a nod. It’s also worth noting a couple of Trade Deadline D-backs were also listed. Josh Naylor ranked 70th and Eugenio Suárez came in at 66 for their excellent seasons… which unfortunately both ended in Mariners uniforms.
The snubbed D-backs player with the best case to crack the top 100 would probably be RHP Ryne Nelson, who turned in a brilliant season after re-entering the starting rotation. Nelson pitched to a 3.39 ERA and 3.73 FIP over 1.54 innings. His ERA was actually a 3.16 as a starting pitcher, since a decent handful of his poor outings last season came in relief.
There’s also an argument for RHP Merrill Kelly, who held a 3.52 ERA in 2025. Before he was traded to the Rangers, that was a 3.22 with the D-backs. He’s perpetually underrated, and probably would have been on the fringe of the list regardless, but it does feel like he’s better than many realize.
Quick Hits
Coaching Update: Well, Jesse Minter was hired by the Baltimore Ravens yesterday, so there’s another quality opening off the board. Minter did not take a second interview with Arizona.
There are now only five openings left this cycle. Former Bills HC Sean McDermott is likely the best coach remaining, but he has yet to take any (reported) interviews. It may very well be Anthony Campanile season in the desert, but who knows at this point.
If you’re looking to keep a close eye on every name, interview request and rumor, follow along with PHNX Cardinals’ coaching tracker at the link below — updated daily by yours truly.
Arizona Cardinals 2026 Coaching Search Tracker
Hawk-eyes: The Suns will look to improve to 11 games over .500 tonight on the road, staring down a matchup with the 21-25 Hawks. Atlanta has not exactly been a highly-successful team this season, and, well, now Trae Young is gone, too.
Phoenix is a on a roll, however, and just got Jalen Green back. Hopefully (fingers crossed, knock on wood, whatever) his return last longer than one game this time.
