Evan Carter

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #1 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 65/Medium
  
  Track Record: If the Rangers hadn’t made the playoffs, Carter would have been assigned to the Arizona Fall League, where he would have been part of the champion Surprise Saguaros. Instead, he made Texas’ postseason roster and was a key piece of their run to the franchise’s first World Series title. Carter’s rise to top prospect and postseason hero was unforeseeable in 2020, when the Rangers shocked the industry by popping him with their second-round pick. Nearly immediately after entering pro ball, Carter looked like that draft’s biggest steal. He was assigned to Low-A Down East as an 18-year-old in 2021 and immediately showed a strong combination of plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills before a back injury cut short his season. The lefthanded hitter broke out in 2022, when he spent nearly all of the regular season in High-A before a cameo with Double-A Frisco that culminated in a Texas League championship. Before making his big league debut on Sept. 8, 2023, Carter was excellent in a year split between Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock, hitting .288/.413/.450 with 13 home runs and 26 stolen bases in 108 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Carter is among the most well-rounded prospects in baseball, with an array of average to plus tools across the board. The Tennessee native is an advanced hitter with an excellent knowledge of the strike zone that led to miss and chase rates of 26.1% and 18.7%, as well as an in-zone whiff rate of just 17.3%. Now, the question is whether he’ll add the thump to complete the package. His average exit velocity in the minors was a pedestrian 85.5 mph, but that figure jumped significantly in his small sample size in the big leagues. Carter’s output also ticked up. After hitting 13 home runs in the minors, he slammed five in 23 big league games and one more in the postseason. To sustain the jump, part of Carter’s offseason plan involves dedicating himself to a serious strength program for the first time. In the past, both as a pro and in high school, weightlifting was more of a complementary piece of his workout regimen. He also could stand to add a bit more loft to his swing. Carter’s other target area includes improving against lefthanders, against whom he showed on-base skills but racked up only one extra-base hit in 2023. Though the presence of Leody Taveras pushed Carter to left field in the big leagues, he has the instincts and long, gliding strides to allow him to play center field at a potentially Gold Glove level. He will be excellent in left--where his average arm fits best--as long as he stays there, but there will be more pressure to develop the power that comes with a corner-outfield job.
  
  The Future: Carter will play nearly all of the 2024 season as a 21-year-old, and his body still has opportunity to fill out. If he adds strength and closes his hole against southpaws, he could be yet another piece of a tantalizing Rangers lineup blessed with a mix of pedigree and promise. n
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 65 | Power: 50 | Run: 80 | Field: 60 | Arm: 50
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #1 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
  
  Track Record: The Rangers shocked the industry by selecting Carter with their second-round pick in 2020 and signing him away from a commitment to Duke with a bonus of $1.25 million. The combination of not playing in many summer showcase events and the lost 2020 season meant that Carter didn't get as much exposure as typical prep prospects. Area scouts Derrick Tucker and Ryan Coe saw enough to pound the table for Carter, and he has repaid their confidence in spades. The Rangers immediately showed their confidence in Carter by jumping him over extended spring training and the Arizona Complex League to send him to Low-A Down East for his pro debut in 2021. He was the youngest player in the Carolina League when he debuted, and was the third-youngest player on a full-season roster on Opening Day, behind only Oakland's Robert Puason and the Marlins' Eury Perez. Carter showed hints of his potential with Down East before a back injury ended his season after jut 32 games. He arrived in 2022 no worse for wear and showed a tantalizing combination of contact, barrel accuracy, strike-zone discipline and speed in a season spent mostly at High-A Hickory. The staggered minor league schedule allowed Texas to push Carter to Double-A for the season's final week and the Texas League playoffs. He went 9-for-21 in the regular year and helped Frisco claim the TL championship.
  
  Scouting Report: Carter has all the ingredients to be an impact player at the top of a lineup. His knowledge of the strike zone is extraordinary for someone so young and with such little experience. These traits showed in his outstanding chase and in-zone miss rates of just 17% and 15%, respectively. Overall, he swung and missed just 22% of the time, a figure that places him among the best in the system. He also did an excellent job hitting balls with the ideal combination of exit velocity and launch angle. Now, he needs to get stronger, and the Rangers believe his frame has plenty of room for extra muscle. Internal evaluators point to Carter's large hands and feet as reason to believe that the strength gains will come as he continues to grow into his body, though outside scouts are a little more skeptical based on his narrow frame. Defensively, Carter is athletic enough that he should be able to balance strength gains with the lithe athleticism needed to remain in center in the long term. He already plays an excellent center field, with range in all directions. Carter also blends plus speed with the instincts to swipe plenty of bags as he moves up the ladder. He stole 28 bases in 2022, but the total might have been higher if he hadn't played through a foot injury resulting from a foul ball at the plate.
  
  The Future: Carter will return to Double-A to begin 2023, when he'll continue his quest to marry his top-flight plate discipline with a bit more thump. He has the ceiling of an excellent regular with a few all-star appearances.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 50
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #8 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Carter was one of the biggest surprises of the 2020 draft and flew under nearly everybody’s radar. The Rangers’ amateur scouting department was ecstatic on draft day and have grown even more so with the way Carter has performed as a pro. He opened the year as the youngest position player on a full-season roster but had his year cut short by a hairline fracture in his back.
  
  Scouting Report: The Rangers were excited by Carter’s tools when they drafted him, but the polish he’s shown both at instructional league and in his time at Low-A have immediately validated those feelings. He did an excellent job commanding the strike zone and rarely chased pitches out of the zone. When he swung, he hit balls hard. His average exit velocity was just a hair above 91 mph, which is impressive for any player, but especially one so young. He has the speed and instincts to play center field, too, and the average arm to fit in a corner if necessary.
  
  The Future: Despite the small sample in 2021, Carter should move up to High-A in 2022. He’s got one of the bigger upsides in the organization and could become a center fielder who can do a little bit of everything.
  
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #18 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The Rangers shocked the industry when they drafted Carter with the 50th overall pick in 2020. He signed for a below-slot $1.25 million to forgo a Duke commitment. The Rangers believed the prep outfielder would have been a big riser had the high school season not been canceled. Carter made that belief look prescient with an impressive showing at instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The Rangers see five-tool potential in Carter, who was only 17 when drafted. He already hits for power, something assisted by how well he commands the strike zone, and should only get stronger as he physically matures. Carter posted a .304/.467/.446 slash line at instructs with as many walks as strikeouts. The Rangers believe Carter can add another 25 pounds to a long-levered frame that already passes the eye test. Carter has above-average speed and the athletic ability to play center field, where he already projects as above-average.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Rangers plan to send Carter to low Class A Hickory to start 2021. He could be a draft steal if he lives up to the expectations created at instructs.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #10 prospect in 2023
• Ranked Baseball America's #25 prospect in 2023

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
  
  Track Record: The Rangers shocked the industry by selecting Carter with their second-round pick in 2020 and signing him away from a commitment to Duke with a bonus of $1.25 million. The combination of not playing in many summer showcase events and the lost 2020 season meant that Carter didn't get as much exposure as typical prep prospects. Area scouts Derrick Tucker and Ryan Coe saw enough to pound the table for Carter, and he has repaid their confidence in spades. The Rangers immediately showed their confidence in Carter by jumping him over extended spring training and the Arizona Complex League to send him to Low-A Down East for his pro debut in 2021. He was the youngest player in the Carolina League when he debuted, and was the third-youngest player on a full-season roster on Opening Day, behind only Oakland's Robert Puason and the Marlins' Eury Perez. Carter showed hints of his potential with Down East before a back injury ended his season after jut 32 games. He arrived in 2022 no worse for wear and showed a tantalizing combination of contact, barrel accuracy, strike-zone discipline and speed in a season spent mostly at High-A Hickory. The staggered minor league schedule allowed Texas to push Carter to Double-A for the season's final week and the Texas League playoffs. He went 9-for-21 in the regular year and helped Frisco claim the TL championship.
  
  Scouting Report: Carter has all the ingredients to be an impact player at the top of a lineup. His knowledge of the strike zone is extraordinary for someone so young and with such little experience. These traits showed in his outstanding chase and in-zone miss rates of just 17% and 15%, respectively. Overall, he swung and missed just 22% of the time, a figure that places him among the best in the system. He also did an excellent job hitting balls with the ideal combination of exit velocity and launch angle. Now, he needs to get stronger, and the Rangers believe his frame has plenty of room for extra muscle. Internal evaluators point to Carter's large hands and feet as reason to believe that the strength gains will come as he continues to grow into his body, though outside scouts are a little more skeptical based on his narrow frame. Defensively, Carter is athletic enough that he should be able to balance strength gains with the lithe athleticism needed to remain in center in the long term. He already plays an excellent center field, with range in all directions. Carter also blends plus speed with the instincts to swipe plenty of bags as he moves up the ladder. He stole 28 bases in 2022, but the total might have been higher if he hadn't played through a foot injury resulting from a foul ball at the plate.
  
  The Future: Carter will return to Double-A to begin 2023, when he'll continue his quest to marry his top-flight plate discipline with a bit more thump. He has the ceiling of an excellent regular with a few all-star appearances.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 60/High
  
  Track Record: The Rangers shocked the industry by selecting Carter with their second-round pick in 2020 and signing him away from a commitment to Duke with a bonus of $1.25 million. The combination of not playing in many summer showcase events and the lost 2020 season meant that Carter didn't get as much exposure as typical prep prospects. Area scouts Derrick Tucker and Ryan Coe saw enough to pound the table for Carter, and he has repaid their confidence in spades. The Rangers immediately showed their confidence in Carter by jumping him over extended spring training and the Arizona Complex League to send him to Low-A Down East for his pro debut in 2021. He was the youngest player in the Carolina League when he debuted, and was the third-youngest player on a full-season roster on Opening Day, behind only Oakland's Robert Puason and the Marlins' Eury Perez. Carter showed hints of his potential with Down East before a back injury ended his season after jut 32 games. He arrived in 2022 no worse for wear and showed a tantalizing combination of contact, barrel accuracy, strike-zone discipline and speed in a season spent mostly at High-A Hickory. The staggered minor league schedule allowed Texas to push Carter to Double-A for the season's final week and the Texas League playoffs. He went 9-for-21 in the regular year and helped Frisco claim the TL championship.
  
  Scouting Report: Carter has all the ingredients to be an impact player at the top of a lineup. His knowledge of the strike zone is extraordinary for someone so young and with such little experience. These traits showed in his outstanding chase and in-zone miss rates of just 17% and 15%, respectively. Overall, he swung and missed just 22% of the time, a figure that places him among the best in the system. He also did an excellent job hitting balls with the ideal combination of exit velocity and launch angle. Now, he needs to get stronger, and the Rangers believe his frame has plenty of room for extra muscle. Internal evaluators point to Carter's large hands and feet as reason to believe that the strength gains will come as he continues to grow into his body, though outside scouts are a little more skeptical based on his narrow frame. Defensively, Carter is athletic enough that he should be able to balance strength gains with the lithe athleticism needed to remain in center in the long term. He already plays an excellent center field, with range in all directions. Carter also blends plus speed with the instincts to swipe plenty of bags as he moves up the ladder. He stole 28 bases in 2022, but the total might have been higher if he hadn't played through a foot injury resulting from a foul ball at the plate.
  
  The Future: Carter will return to Double-A to begin 2023, when he'll continue his quest to marry his top-flight plate discipline with a bit more thump. He has the ceiling of an excellent regular with a few all-star appearances.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 55/Extreme
  
  Midseason Update: Carter missed most of last year with a small fracture in his spine, but he opened 2022 healthy and showed the same standout potential he hinted at in 2021. He went through a bit of a funk in June when he fouled a ball off his foot and developed poor mechanical habits while trying to play through the pain. Once he healed, however, he showed the same mix of speed, defense, hittability and power projection that makes him one of the Rangers&#39 most attractive prospects. Track Record: Carter was one of the biggest surprises of the 2020 draft and flew under nearly everybody&#39s radar. The Rangers&#39 amateur scouting department was ecstatic on draft day and have grown even more so with the way Carter has performed as a pro. He opened the year as the youngest position player on a full-season roster but had his year cut short by a hairline fracture in his back.
  
  Scouting Report: The Rangers were excited by Carter&#39s tools when they drafted him, but the polish he&#39s shown both at instructional league and in his time at Low-A have immediately validated those feelings. He did an excellent job commanding the strike zone and rarely chased pitches out of the zone. When he swung, he hit balls hard. His average exit velocity was just a hair above 91 mph, which is impressive for any player, but especially one so young. He has the speed and instincts to play center field, too, and the average arm to fit in a corner if necessary.
  
  The Future: Despite the small sample in 2021, Carter should move up to High-A in 2022. He&#39s got one of the bigger upsides in the organization and could become a center fielder who can do a little bit of everything.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 50. Speed: 55. Fielding: 55. Arm: 50.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Carter was one of the biggest surprises of the 2020 draft and flew under nearly everybody’s radar. The Rangers’ amateur scouting department was ecstatic on draft day and have grown even more so with the way Carter has performed as a pro. He opened the year as the youngest position player on a full-season roster but had his year cut short by a hairline fracture in his back.
  
  Scouting Report: The Rangers were excited by Carter’s tools when they drafted him, but the polish he’s shown both at instructional league and in his time at Low-A have immediately validated those feelings. He did an excellent job commanding the strike zone and rarely chased pitches out of the zone. When he swung, he hit balls hard. His average exit velocity was just a hair above 91 mph, which is impressive for any player, but especially one so young. He has the speed and instincts to play center field, too, and the average arm to fit in a corner if necessary.
  
  The Future: Despite the small sample in 2021, Carter should move up to High-A in 2022. He’s got one of the bigger upsides in the organization and could become a center fielder who can do a little bit of everything.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Rangers shocked the industry when they drafted Carter with the 50th overall pick in 2020. He signed for a below-slot $1.25 million to forgo a Duke commitment. The Rangers believed the prep outfielder would have been a big riser had the high school season not been canceled. Carter made that belief look prescient with an impressive showing at instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The Rangers see five-tool potential in Carter, who was only 17 when drafted. He already hits for power, something assisted by how well he commands the strike zone, and should only get stronger as he physically matures. Carter posted a .304/.467/.446 slash line at instructs with as many walks as strikeouts. The Rangers believe Carter can add another 25 pounds to a long-levered frame that already passes the eye test. Carter has above-average speed and the athletic ability to play center field, where he already projects as above-average.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Rangers plan to send Carter to low Class A Hickory to start 2021. He could be a draft steal if he lives up to the expectations created at instructs.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Rangers shocked the industry when they drafted Carter with the 50th overall pick in 2020. He signed for a below-slot $1.25 million to forgo a Duke commitment. The Rangers believed the prep outfielder would have been a big riser had the high school season not been canceled. Carter made that belief look prescient with an impressive showing at instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The Rangers see five-tool potential in Carter, who was only 17 when drafted. He already hits for power, something assisted by how well he commands the strike zone, and should only get stronger as he physically matures. Carter posted a .304/.467/.446 slash line at instructs with as many walks as strikeouts. The Rangers believe Carter can add another 25 pounds to a long-levered frame that already passes the eye test. Carter has above-average speed and the athletic ability to play center field, where he already projects as above-average.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Rangers plan to send Carter to low Class A Hickory to start 2021. He could be a draft steal if he lives up to the expectations created at instructs.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Rangers shocked the industry when they drafted Carter with the 50th overall pick in 2020. He signed for a below-slot $1.25 million to forgo a Duke commitment. The Rangers believed the prep outfielder would have been a big riser had the high school season not been canceled. Carter made that belief look prescient with an impressive showing at instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The Rangers see five-tool potential in Carter, who was only 17 when drafted. He already hits for power, something assisted by how well he commands the strike zone, and should only get stronger as he physically matures. Carter posted a .304/.467/.446 slash line at instructs with as many walks as strikeouts. The Rangers believe Carter can add another 25 pounds to a long-levered frame that already passes the eye test. Carter has above-average speed and the athletic ability to play center field, where he already projects as above-average.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Rangers plan to send Carter to low Class A Hickory to start 2021. He could be a draft steal if he lives up to the expectations created at instructs.