Rangers rookie outfielder Evan Carter has probably played his last game of the season, as GM Chris Young told reporters (including Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News) that the team doesn’t expect Carter to return from the injured list before the regular-season schedule wraps up. A postseason return might be possible, but not probable given the long-term nature of Carter’s injury. Carter has missed over two months due to a lumbar strain in his back, and the Rangers officially moved him to the 60-man IL yesterday in order to create some space on the 40-man roster.
“His back continues to give him a little bit of trouble when he ramps up his hitting progression,” Young said. “We’ve seen multiple specialists in the past week and determined that he is going to need a more lengthy time period to rest his back without rotational activities. So, I’m not overly optimistic that we’re going to see Evan again in the regular season. It’s just going to take some time and we want to protect him. He is a huge part of our future.”
It seemed like Carter was making decent progress earlier this month and was starting to take part in more baseball-related activities in preparation for a minor league rehab assignment. However, Texas manager Bruce Bochy explained to media yesterday that Carter had been shut down due to continued discomfort in his back, and that extended period now looks like it will bring Carter’s 2024 campaign to an end. Neither Young or Bochy mentioned the possibility of a surgery to address the issue, so it seems as though Carter will try to go on the mend with just rest and recovery.
So much has already happened in Carter’s young career that it is easy to forget that he doesn’t turn 22 until next month, and he made his Major League debut less than 11 months ago. Carter was one of baseball’s more highly-touted prospects at the time of his debut, yet he exceeded all expectations by hitting .306/.413/.645 in his first 75 plate appearances in the regular season, and followed that up with a .300/.417/.500 slash line in 72 PA in the postseason.
This starring role in the Rangers’ World Series run made Carter a heavy favorite for AL Rookie of the Year honors heading into 2024, but he hit only .188/.272/.361 over 162 PA this season. The back problem was obviously a factor in that lack of production, and as Grant noted, Carter also missed a lot of the 2021 minor league season with a stress fracture in his back. Since Carter recovered from that prior injury in good form, there’s hope he can similarly rebound in 2025, yet two significant back problems in four years is certainly a bigger-picture cause for concern.
Off topic a little, but I was looking up his stats for the season. Saw he had an .188 BA and sub .700 ops. How could he have a .7 war, or positive war at all?
Genuinely looking for someone to explain how those stats turn into a positive owar and positive war. Thanks
Defense exists.
Ozzie Smith had a career .666 OPS but he was worth 76.9 WAR over his career.
Is this your first time with baseball stats?
Damn. He asked for an explanation. But you had to be a dick and slam him.
Thanks Wash. People like that either don’t like reading or don’t know how, which is why I referenced a positive oWAR.
Baseball reference has him at .2 oWAR, but his OPS+ is a 79. Doesn’t seem to be that would equate a positive oWAR, so looking for how that gap is bridged.
Offense was way down this year to start the season. Lowest ops through first 6 weeks at least in the last 9 years. That .700 ops might have been above average or close to it at the time and war is relative
Good thing I kept him on my fantasy IL all season…
Better yet, having him and Langford. I thought those guys would be the next-gen players for the Rangers. Probably still will be, but this was pretty disappointing. I wonder if Langford needed more than just 171 minor league ABs.
2 back injuries in 3 years could be chronic. I wonder if his playing style may be causing this. His swing maybe?
I think I was reading that it is a genetic issue and the doctors believe he will grow out of it. Still a bummer but at least he’s not even 22, plenty of time to realize his potential