Carroll's impact on Valley youth leads to Clemente Award nomination

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When Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll expressed an interest in being involved in the community following his 2023 Rookie of the Year campaign, Arizona senior vice president of community impact Debbie Castaldo put together a long list of events that the club had going on over the holidays.

The thinking was it would give Carroll a chance to pick and choose a few events and get a feel for where he might want to focus his efforts in the future.

Castaldo still remembers the one word email she got in response.

"Okay," it said.

Castaldo wasn't sure what that meant so she sent back an email for clarification. Carroll explained that he was planning on doing them all. Castaldo couldn't believe it.

"I mean, he just is a person of incredible character, incredible kindness, still very humble," Castaldo said. "He doesn't see himself as different than us. He sees himself as just being part of the team, part of the family, which I just think is very unique and very different."

Stories about Carroll's generosity are told by just about everyone in the office who interacts with him.

One of the team's programs involves having a player or front office member go on a shopping spree at a local Target where they have a certain amount of money to spend. The teenage girl Carroll was helping shop mentioned to him that she was going to be part of a concert at her school later in the week and said it would mean the world to her if he would come.

Without telling anyone with the Diamondbacks, Carroll showed up for the concert.

So it's no surprise that Carroll is the Diamondbacks' nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, which is given annually to the "player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field."

"It's a huge honor, mostly because it is that man and his legacy that's being honored," Carroll said of Clemente. "So that's kind of how I look at it. But in terms of the personal stuff, I just feel like I'm trying to do my part and be a good human."

Carroll grew up with two exceptional parents in Pey-Lin and Brant Carroll, who set a good example for him, and he received a lot of support from his school and community.

"I got really lucky," Carroll said.

That's why he has chosen to focus his community efforts, including his CC7 Charitable Fund to support children’s programs and projects dedicated to empowering, celebrating and inspiring kids to reach for the stars.

Carroll is a cornerstone of the D-backs’ Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program as a spokesperson and hands-on leader through his own CC7 Fund, surprising the teams with a special clubhouse welcome with custom lockers full of Nike uniforms and gear.

Carroll dedicates countless hours to young athletes at Boys & Girls Clubs, providing gloves, gear and uniforms, hosting clinics, surprising kids at practices, and speaking at schools. He is especially passionate about helping children facing barriers to education and sports participation.

When he learned that many Phoenix-area high school athletes lacked cleats for tryouts, Carroll personally selected, purchased and donated 160 pairs of Nike cleats.

"I think that that's where I feel like the most meaningful impact can be made," Carroll said of focusing on kids. "They're the future. That's the future big leaguer, the future doctor, the future anything. And so just to be able to give opportunity, in some way, to children that lack opportunity, I think that means a lot to me, because I feel like I'm very much a product of opportunities I was given as a kid. I realize that I was very fortunate in that regard, and that other kids may need additional support, other than a family group or school."