Arizona Diamondbacks star is also an Arizona State student

PHOENIX, — The Arizona Diamondbacks clinched a World Series birth on Tuesday with a 4-2 victory in Game 7 over the Philadelphia Phillies. It’s Arizona’s first World Series appearance since they won it all in 2001. They’ll play the Texas Rangers, who also won a Game 7 in their conference series. The Rangers took down the defending champions, the Houston Astros.

The Diamondbacks were the last team in the NL to make the postseason, and have put together an improbable run that the state of Arizona will remember for a long time, regardless of the result in the World Series.

Two players that made a critical impact on the Diamondbacks have something in common, that many may not know.

Arizona Diamondbacks star is a current ASU student

Merrill Kelly pitched a gem in Game 6 of the NLCS against the Phillies, forcing a Game 7. Before that outing, he shut out the Dodgers in his NLDS appearance.

Kelly is a well-documented Arizona State Sun Devil. He spent a season in Tempe, and now he’ll have the accomplishment of pitching both in a College World Series and a World Series.

Before pitching for Arizona State in 2010, Kelly graduated from Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale. He also attended Yavapai Junior College in Prescott, Ariz. for two years.

A true hometown hero.

However, he’s not the only Diamondbacks player with Arizona State ties.

Corbin Carroll is an Arizona State online student

Rising star and likely NL Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll is an Arizona State online student.

⚾️ @Mert_723 has the distinction of pitching in the College World Series for @ASU_Baseball and now the World Series with the Diamondbacks.

⚾️ Star outfielder and likely NL Rookie of the Year @corbin_carroll is a currently enrolled student with @asuonline. (2/3) pic.twitter.com/DbW4t4pY8q

— Arizona State University (@ASU) October 25, 2023

This season Carroll bat .285 with 25 home runs and 76 RBIs. He also added 54 stolen bases and became quickly regarded as one of the fastest players in MLB.

The rookie clearly has a bright future, and he was also instrumental in Arizona’s Game 7 victory.

Carroll had three hits, two stolen bases, two RBIs, and two runs scored in Game 7 against the Phillies. He became the second youngest player in MLB history to have three hits and two stolen bases in a playoff game. Only Ty Cobb was younger, and he did it in 1908… over 100 years ago.

This week Carroll will be playing in the World Series, and probably will need to worry about staying caught up on his homework assignments too.

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