EVAN CARTER NEWS

2025 MLB predictions: Cy Young, ROY, Could both New York teams miss the playoffs?

Here are 13 bold predictions for the 2025 MLB season.

MARCH 28 • FOX SPORTS

Playoff hero Carter to start in Triple-A after shaky spring ARLINGTON -- Evan Carter was one of many World Series heroes for the Rangers in 2023. At 21 years old, he appeared in all 17 of Texas' posts...

MARCH 25 • MLB.COM

Rangers will start season with Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, but not Evan Carter

Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker have both made the opening day roster with the Texas Rangers, and the recent first-round draft picks will fill the final two spots in the rotation

MARCH 25 • Associated Press

Beginning season in minors The Rangers optioned Carter to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Carter missed much of the 2024 campaign with back problems and never got going this spring, slashing .154/.214/.205 with a 15:3 K:BB. The 22-year-old will look to get on track at Round Rock while Leody Taveras handles center field duties with the Rangers.

MARCH 25 • ROTOWIRE

Leap-frogged by Taveras in CF? Carter is absent from the lineup for a second straight day in Tuesday's exhibition contest against the Royals.

Impact Teams traditionally use exhibition games in the final week as dress rehearsals for Opening Day, and it was Leody Taveras in center field Monday against righty Michael Wacha and Taveras again in center Tuesday versus lefty Kris Bubic. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy hasn't announced anything in regard to who his starting center fielder will be, but it's looking like Taveras will be the choice over Carter. Carter has hit just .154/.214/.205 with a 15:3 K:BB this spring after missing most of last season with back problems. If Carter does indeed lose out on the starting job, he'll likely begin the season at Triple-A Round Rock so he can play every day.

MARCH 25 • ROTOWIRE

Faces possible platoon in center Carter and Leody Taveras could operate as a platoon in center field to start the regular season, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Carter's struggle to hit lefties means he could face righties only, although Taveras isn't much better against southpaws. This spring, Carter has five strikeouts in seven at-bats against left-handers, while Taveras is slashing .154/.214/.153 in 13 at-bats against them. Texas manager Bruce Bochy was bullish about both, noting each have been squaring up the ball better over the last few weeks. Carter was passable against lefties in the minors, but he hasn't had the opportunity to consistently face the high-caliber left-handers that pitch in the majors.

MARCH 21 • ROTOWIRE

Carter gets candid about struggles vs. lefties SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Evan Carter burst onto the national baseball scene during the 2023 postseason when the then-21-year-old hit .300 with a ....

MARCH 21 • MLB.COM

Trending toward making roster Carter has "eased concerns about tentativeness in his swing" following a good showing in a recent minor-league game and several hard-hit balls during Cactus League play, Evan Grant...

Impact Grant writes in his latest Opening Day roster projection that the idea of Carter not making the team "seemed to be gaining momentum," but it appears the young outfielder's stock is trending back up. Carter is slashing only .222/.300/.296 with no home runs in 11 Cactus League games this spring, while his competition for the center-field job, Leody Taveras, is batting .237/.310/.500 with three long balls. Both players appear likely to crack the Opening Day roster, but it's not clear what the playing time split in center field between the two will look like.

MARCH 18 • ROTOWIRE

Here's the Rangers' Spring Breakout roster SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The annual Spring Breakout game returns for its second year as a showcase event for Major League prospects. The Rangers h...

MARCH 6 • MLB.COM

Fantasy Baseball Sleepers 2025: Top 5 underrated outfielders to target this upcoming season ft. Jurickson Profar and Evan Carter The 2025 MLB fantasy season is rapidly approaching so managers will need to research and determine which players could be considered fantasy...

MARCH 5 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM

Rangers two-time All-Star OF Adolis García to undergo MRI after feeling pain in left oblique

Rangers outfielder Adolis García was scratched from the lineup for a spring training game against the Athletics and will undergo a MRI on his left oblique

MARCH 4 • Associated Press

Back in lineup Carter (illness) will start in center field and bat third in Saturday's Cactus League against the Brewers.

Impact Carter was scratched from Friday's lineup due to an illness, but his health seems to have improved ahead of Saturday's game. The 22-year-old is 1-for-7 with a double and two strikeouts across three games so far this spring.

MARCH 1 • ROTOWIRE

Scratched from lineup with illness Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Carter was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Cubs due to illness, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Carter has "got some crud," per Bochy, but is expected to be back in the lineup Saturday. Kevin Pillar will take his spot in the lineup Friday.

FEBRUARY 28 • ROTOWIRE

What sport would Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter play if he wasn't in pro baseball? The youngster is in the midst of his second spring training as a major leaguer with the Rangers.

FEBRUARY 27 • DALLASNEWS.COM

Paul Skenes' girlfriend Olivia Dunne gets real about her celebrity lookalike in recent star-studded interview ft. Travis Kelce, Evan Carter & others Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes' girlfriend, Olivia Dunne, recently shared her thoughts on her celebrity lookalike, one that many fan...

FEBRUARY 25 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM

Hitless Saturday Carter batted leadoff and went 0-for-3 in Saturday's spring game against San Franisco.

Impact Carter is a spring project. Not just because of the back injury that limited him to 162 plate appearances in 2024 but also due to struggles against lefties. His one opportunity Saturday ended with a strikeout; it was a three-pitch at-bat where the hitter with a reputation of discipline swung at pitches off the plate. Carter is 3-for-37 against MLB southpaws the last two seasons. If he does manage to be a competent hitter, Carter could see time as a leadoff hitter. Texas manager Bruce Bochy has offered conflicting statements about Marcus Semien being the default leadoff batter in 2025, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

FEBRUARY 23 • ROTOWIRE

Starting Saturday Carter (back) will start in center field and bat leadoff in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Giants.

Impact Carter has been private about the nature and severity of his back injury, and it's expected to be something the Rangers keep a close eye on throughout spring training and the regular season. He is apparently in good enough condition to take the field Saturday after sitting out Friday's contest, but regular rest days may become a common theme for the 22-year-old outfielder.

FEBRUARY 22 • ROTOWIRE

Health to be monitored closely The Rangers are expected to monitor Carter's back closely throughout the 2025 season, though he's been reluctant to reveal his exact diagnosis, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning New...

Impact Carter made it clear that discussing the back injury isn't exactly his favorite topic. However, he noted that the issue could be considered chronic inflammation since it's flared up in two of his last three seasons. "I kind of want to keep it personal," said Carter when asked about his diagnosis. "It's personal to me and we're going to keep it that way. I can't change it. It's a part of me now, but we've got a plan." This update feels a bit ominous after it was previously reported that he'd enter spring training without any restrictions, as it sounds as though the back injury could flare up at various points during the year. Manager Bruce Bochy noted that the level of concern is low entering camp, but the team plans to monitor the 22-year-old closely, which could mean regular rest days.

FEBRUARY 18 • ROTOWIRE

'I'm good now': Carter believes back problems in the past SURPRISE, Ariz. -- There are a lot of questions when it comes to Evan Carter going into 2025. Can he hit left-handed pitching? Will he start...

FEBRUARY 18 • MLB.COM

Candidate to bat leadoff Carter (back) could be considered for the leadoff spot in the Rangers' lineup, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Marcus Semien has started 309 of the Rangers' 324 regular-season games over the last two seasons in the leadoff spot and is the favorite to be at the top of the batting order again. However, he had just a .308 on-base percentage in 2024 and the Rangers are leaving open the possibility of using him in a different spot. Carter has the skill set for a leadoff hitter with his terrific batting eye, but he's not even a given to be a starter right now and needs to show last season's back issues are behind him. The left-handed hitting Carter has struggled mightily versus southpaws, so if he does bat leadoff it would surely only be against right-handers. Carter had an ablation procedure on his back in October but is expected to enter spring training without restrictions.

FEBRUARY 10 • ROTOWIRE

No restrictions Carter (back) no longer has any restrictions on what he can do in the field or weight room, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Impact The promise Cater showed promise in 2023, when he batted .306 (1.058 OPS) in 23 regular-season games and appeared in 17 postseason games for the eventual World Series champs, never materialized in 2024. The outfielder endured a slow start then a stress reaction in his back in May. He was eventually shut down after multiple attempts to ramp up. The 22-year-old's added strength and bulked up during the offseason in preparation for what is expected to be a normal spring. A healthy Carter should be a regular in the Rangers' outfield, most likely center field.

JANUARY 25 • ROTOWIRE

Evan Carter's wife Kaylen marks second marriage anniversary with Rangers star with heartwarming message Kaylen Shell Carter, the wife of 2023 World Series champion Evan Carter, celebrated the couple's second wedding anniversary on Tuesday.

DECEMBER 18, 2024 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM

Cleared to swing bat Carter (back) has been swinging a bat and is expected to be 100 percent for the start of spring training, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Carter was limited to just 45 games this season due to a nagging back problem and underwent an ablation procedure in October to remove tissue from his back. The expectation is that he'll be without restrictions once spring training rolls around. The 22-year-old posted just a .633 OPS over 162 plate appearances in 2024 but should enter 2025 with a regular role for the Rangers.

NOVEMBER 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Has ablation procedure on back Carter underwent an ablation procedure on his back last week, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

Impact The procedure removed some tissue that had been affecting his recovery from a lower-back stress reaction that limited him to just 45 games this season. Carter has been cleared to begin a hitting progression, with the hope that he'll have a normal offseason and be 100 percent by spring training.

OCTOBER 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Hopes to swing bat in 9-to-10 weeks Carter (back) said Sunday that he doesn't expect to require surgery and hopes to resume swinging a bat in 9-to-10 weeks, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Rangers general manager Chris Young said earlier this week that Carter was unlikely to make it back from the 60-day injured list before the regular season ends Sept. 29. Based on the timeline he provided for himself to resume swinging the bat, Carter already seems to be ruling himself out for the postseason, barring the Rangers making another trip to the World Series that expects their playoff run into late October and early November. After his star turn in the 2023 playoffs, Carter was tabbed as a leading contender for the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year, but the 21-year-old slashed a lowly .188/.272/.361 in 162 plate appearances for Texas before being placed on the injured list May 28 with a lower-back stress reaction. Carter should still have an everyday role waiting for him in 2025, assuming he makes a full recovery from the back injury over the winter.

AUGUST 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE