Rangers call up top prospect Evan Carter as Adolis García heads to IL: What to expect from OF

The Texas Rangers called up top prospect Evan Carter ahead of their series against the Oakland Athletics, the team announced Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:

Carter, an outfielder, is being promoted as All-Star Adolis García heads to the 10-day injured list with a patellar tendon strain. García is batting .244 with 34 home runs and leads the American League with 100 RBIs.
The Rangers selected Carter — who turned 21 last month — in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft. The Athletic’s Keith Law listed Carter as the No. 10 prospect in baseball in his midseason rankings.
Carter is batting .288/.413/.450 with 13 home runs and 26 stolen bases across three minor-league levels this season.

Evan Carter is headed to The Show. #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/8hY9kC6UcR

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) September 7, 2023

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

What it means for Rangers

Is there a good time to lose a two-time All-Star? Probably not. But the timing is such that the Rangers, losers of three in a row and six of their last seven, cannot be happy to see García go down now. The injury will leave García’s availability in question for October. But his absence also makes it that much tougher for the Rangers to qualify for the postseason. The team has fallen behind Toronto in the race for the third AL wild card. García offered right-handed balance to a lineup being carried by Corey Seager, a left-handed hitter. He had also played strong defense in right field.

Carter is a legitimate prospect, but it won’t be easy for him, at 21, to replace García. — McCullough

What to expect from Carter

Carter was the Rangers’ second-round pick in the shortened 2020 draft and was seen by other teams as a real reach, but the Rangers’ scouts have been vindicated, as he has hit his way up the ladder the last two years, posting very strong walk rates at every level where he has played.

He’s a disciplined hitter who’s unafraid to work deep counts and can sometimes take a few too many strikes, with doubles power that might end up getting him to 15-18 homers a year. He’s also a plus runner who can definitely play center field, although he doesn’t have the same range as incumbent Leody Taveras and probably profiles best in right given the Rangers’ other options. If nothing else, it sets Carter up to compete for the one open outfield job in Arlington next spring. — Law

Backstory

Carter, 6 feet 2 and 190 pounds, entered the year as the No. 53 prospect in the sport, per Law’s rankings. He slashed .285/.410/.459 over his three minor-league seasons.

The Rangers (76-63) are squarely in the AL wild-card race, half a game back of the Blue Jays for the third spot.

Required reading

(Photo: Ben Ludeman / Texas Rangers / Getty Images)