Texas Rangers fans should be excited for Evan Carter

The Texas Rangers shocked all of Major League Baseball by taking Evan Carter with the 50th overall pick last season, but it’s possible they struck gold.

When the Texas Rangers selected Evan Carter in the second round of the 2020 draft, many across the sport raised an eyebrow.

Carter wasn’t ranked among MLB.com’s Top 200 prospects or Baseball America’s Top 500 in 2020, but the Texas Rangers remained thoroughly interested in the outfielder.

Texas Rangers’ outfield prospect Evan Carter could be the organization’s next star.

Sources around the team said that had he played a full high school season, he could have gone in the first round.

The outfielder and right-handed pitcher had committed to Duke to play baseball, but also played football during his freshman year during his freshman year.

But the former Blue Devil commit called it a “no-brainer” when the Texas Rangers came calling.

The Rangers received great praise from Duke head coach Chris Pollard, who thought very highly of Carter.

“He’s a really athletic kid, and a really good runner for his size. He’s a big guy, 6’4, 210, but he really utilizes speed in his game. I think he’s really starting to grow into some power and has also been an upper 80s guy on the mound.” – Chris Pollard

Carter has committed to being an outfielder in the professional ranks, saying that hitting is his passion.

The Texas Rangers had a multitude of other options to choose from, but Senior Director of Amateur Scouting Kip Fagg felt that he would be good as gone had they not chose him.

“He’s an unbelievable kid. We saw him last summer. We saw him in the fall. Actually, the last game I saw this spring before the pandemic, I was in Elizabethton, Tennessee. I was in front of the family a couple of times. Unbelievable family. Unbelievable kid. He was the valedictorian of his high school. It’s incredible. He’s a five-tool player. We feel like we beat a lot of teams.” – Kip Fagg

Fagg noted that Pittsburgh and Kansas City were very high on Carter, as well.

Evan Carter could be an incredible steal for the Texas Rangers, and even without a full season in pro-ball, he projects to be a threat at the major league level.

The Rangers believe that Carter has five-tool potential, and could blossom into a perennial All-Star.

Texas Rangers fans should be excited about Evan Carter.

He projects to be a capable outfielder with an above-average arm and good speed, adding a loose left-handed swing that will surely produce power as he puts on more muscle.

Not only is his potential through the roof, but the Texas Rangers have raved about his makeup.

Carter was valedictorian in high school, and they believe he is a natural-born leader.

He impressed immensely at the Texas Rangers Fall Instructs for their prospects, garnering high praise from Hickory manager Carlos Cardoza.

“He’s been, I’d say, even better than advertised. Everything our scouting group talked about the makeup, the intelligence, the aptitude, just the natural athleticism. I know he’s kind of like a late bloomer when it comes to the draft status and all that, but it’s all played. It’s all played up.” – Carlos Cardoza

President of Baseball Operations Jon Daniels said he loved what he saw in Carter, noting that he had handled himself really well against much older competition and had a great knowledge and control of the strike zone.

Carter hasn’t seen a ton of high velocity or advanced breaking balls, but has the confidence of the organization backing his progression.

Based solely on the videos and reports from those closest to the organization, Evan Carter should bring a lot of excitement to Ranger fans.

He is toolsy, but as he grows and puts on more muscle, a potential All-Star could be developing before our eyes.

To me, Carter most resembles and has the potential to be the next great Texas Ranger outfielder, and I give him strong comparisons to former MVP Josh Hamilton.

I predict Evan Carter will be a top five prospect in the Rangers’ system after the 2021 season, and be amongst the best in baseball after 2022.

If the Texas Rangers did indeed strike gold, and he develops similar to a Josh Hamilton, we could be seeing the next MVP in the making.