Carter doesn't make the Opening Day cut

By Kasey Jarvis

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

It was announced yesterday that Rangers youngster and World Series champion Evan Carter didn’t make it to the Rangers opening day roster and will begin the year in AAA Round Rock. 

Carter has been dealing with back problems that have nagged him all throughout last year and has slowed down his production since hitting a record nine doubles during the 2023 postseason when he made a name for himself on the Rangers World Series run. But 2023 is now a thing of the past and 2025 is hopefully going to be a revival for Evan Carter and for him to finally be the ballplayer the Rangers know he can be. The Rangers knew when they Drafted Carter in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft that the back problems were there along with the high potential. Unfortunately, his back problems have heightened and truly hindered his output on the Diamond.

Carter slashed only .188 with an .633 OPS in 2024 and was noticeable not himself at the beginning of the season, and even more so when the Rangers seemingly rushed him back during his recovery process which showed when he hit .132 in May before finally being sidelined for the remainder of the season.  This time around the Rangers have been careful every step of the way and I believe Carter starting out in AAA will help take some weight off his shoulders knowing how crucial every at-bat would be for the club, and will let him work on himself and his swing a lot more freely.

It’s been a long road for Carter, and the hope was that with the time that he had to get back from his back injuries, his swing would look like it did during that 2023 postseason run. Unfortunately, for the Rangers, Carter’s swing, timing, and overall play haven’t returned yet to form. During the spring, he hit .154, striking out 15 times, not looking at all like when he was called up in September of 2023 to replace an injured Adolis Garcia. 

The Hope of the Rangers organization and, of course, the fans is that Evan Carter will return to the level of production that we all know he can elevate to. Hopefully, with more everyday at-bats in the minor leagues, constant coaching, and a fire lit under him, he’ll regain the confidence, and we’ll see him manning the outfield in Arlington once more before too long. All eyes will surely be on him in Round Rock early on in the season.