When Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter burst onto the scene and became a key player in the team’s 2023 World Series win, many thought it would be smooth sailing for the young outfielder.

Despite being just 21 years old at the time, the stage seemed set for Carter to become the Rangers' everyday center fielder and never look back.

However, that has not been the case as Carter has struggled to stay on the field, playing in just 108 games over the last two seasons.

Throughout Spring Training, the Rangers have been exploring ways they can help keep Carter on the field, though they couldn’t help but notice the shape he arrived in.

“I think it’s a combination of [things],” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said when asked about Carter’s shape coming into camp.

“Him having a full off-season of health and getting to life and doing the things he wanted to do, not just try to recover but to get stronger, and I also think he’s just getting older and more physical, so I think it’s a combination of things, but he’s in a really good spot.” Schumaker finished.

Carter’s strong health has carried over into Cactus League games as he has put up an OPS of 1.075 in 20 at-bats.

The big question when it comes to Carter has always been his ability to hit left-handed pitching, but Schumaker believes the Rangers are simply a better team when he’s in the lineup.

“I’ve said this before, but if he mixes in a walk, stolen base, run scored, and plays elite defense that’s also super valuable,” Schumaker said when talking about Carter playing against left-handed pitching.

“He doesn’t have to slug the lefties, it’s just putting together good at-bats as he does against the righties, and I think he has a good chance to try to become an everyday player like he wants to be,” Schumaker added.

Ultimately, the Rangers have always wanted Carter to be their everyday center fielder, and to do that, he was always going to have to impact games with a lefty on the mound.

Schumaker isn’t going to throw Carter into the ring against the game’s best left-handed arms, but he certainly wants to start peeling back the bandaid a little bit.

There’s no doubt that the Rangers are a better team when Carter is on the field and producing, and the club feels like, with a full year of health, he can very much become the player they envisioned he would be after his magical World Series run.

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