Texas Rangers Rising Star Evan Carter Leaves Spring Training Game After Foream Hit By Pitch
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Take a deep breath, Texas Rangers fans.
Rising star Evan Carter, who is expected to be the club’s starting left-fielder this season, left Sunday’s spring training game after he was hit by a pitch on his left forearm.
Carter was briefly examined by trainers and manager Bruce Bochy after taking first base but was quickly replaced by Elier Hernandez. Hernandez replaced Carter in right field as well.
The club later announced x-rays were negative and that Carter’s status is “day-to-day.”
Carter, 21, was an integral part of the Rangers World Series championship run in October after being called up for MLB debut on Sept. 8.
An update on the severity of the injury is expected later during the game.
The Rangers are hosting the San Francisco Giants on Sunday in their third Cactus League game of the season at Surprise Stadium.
Giants left-hander Kyle Harrison struck out Marcus Semien to start the bottom of the first before hitting the left-hitting Carter. Hernandez was thrown out attempting to steal second, and Wyatt Langford struck out on a foul tip to end the inning.
Carter batted .306 with four doubles, five home runs, with 12 RBI and 15 runs in 23 regular-season games. In the postseason, Carter burst onto the national scene, batting .300 with nine runs, six RBI, nine doubles and a homer.
Producing against left-handed pitchers is something Carter said he was eager to prove last week in spring camp. Carter was 0 for 10 with a walk and six strikeouts against lefties during limited exposure in the final three weeks of the 2023 regular season.
Carter is still technically labeled the Rangers’ No. 1 prospect by MLB Pipeline based on lack of MLB experience but is expected to contribute as an everyday starter in 2024.