Rangers' most important engine finally got the spring training spark he needed

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter has a lot of potential. We all saw how great he can be in 2023 when he slashed .306/.413/.645 (187 OPS+) with five homers, 12 RBI and three stolen bases over 23 games in September, then hit .300/.417/.500 over 17 postseason games en route to the Rangers defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks to win their first World Series in franchise history.

Carter has unfortunately experienced regression and multiple injuries since his outstanding 2023 performance. He appeared in just 45 games in 2024 due to back issues. He began last season with Triple-A Round Rock and landed on the IL three times in 2025, suffering a quad strain in May, back spasms in August and a broken wrist 10 days later.

Carter struggled in 2024, hitting just .188/.272/.361 (83 OPS+) over 162 plate appearances with Texas. He improved in 2025, hitting a solid .247/.336/.392 (114 OPS+) with 4 Outs Above Average (OAA) as a center fielder. Carter will be an All-Star-level player if he can repeat his 2025 performance over the course of a full season. But based on his 2023 success, we know he can be even better.

Carter got off to a slow start this spring. He went 0-for-2 during Texas' Cactus League opener against the Kansas City Royals on Friday. He then walked once while going 0-for-2 against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. Finally, the 23-year-old collected his first hit of the spring, a leadoff line-drive triple to left field off Diamondbacks righty Michael Soroka in the bottom of the first inning on Tuesday.

Rangers outfielder Evan Carter collects first hit of spring training

It's awesome to see Carter put on a nice swing and use his wheels early in spring. A healthy Carter in a lineup with Corey Seager, Brandon Nimmo and Wyatt Langford could be one of the best in baseball. Let's hope he continues to see the ball well and it carries over to the regular season.

Evan Carter poised to play big role on 2026 Rangers

The Rangers are ready for Carter to play a big role in 2026. They plan to utilize him against lefties more often. He has struggled significantly against southpaws in his short big-league career, having collected just five hits in 60 at-bats. He needs the opportunity to receive more plate appearances against lefties if Texas wants him to improve, which the Rangers brass appears ready to do.

A healthy Carter who can hit lefties at even just an average rate could be one of the best outfielders in baseball. MLB Network's Tom Verducci reported last week that the Rangers want Carter to be the primary center fielder this year, but both he and Langford have logged innings at the position this spring. We'll just have to wait and see who's manning the position on Opening Day. Regardless, Carter seems primed to have a strong 2026 campaign.