Evan Carter Left Off Rangers Opening Day Roster Amid Competition

ARLINGTON, Texas — Outfielder Evan Carter will not be part of the Texas Rangers‘ roster for Opening Day, as confirmed by President of Baseball Operations Chris Young on Tuesday. This decision comes just days before the team faces the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Field on Thursday.

Carter, 22, had been vying for a spot on the team but will start the season at Triple-A Round Rock, joining pitcher Dane Dunning. Meanwhile, Leody Taveras is set to take the center field position, making this an interesting pivot in the Rangers’ lineup strategies.

During the spring training season, Carter battled performance issues, especially against left-handed pitchers. He recorded no hits with six strikeouts in nine at-bats against lefties. This has proven concerning, especially since he suffered a back injury last season that limited him to just 45 games.

“It’s never an easy task when you miss that much time and you’re that young and haven’t seen a lot of lefties,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “But we’re going to keep trying to find reps for him there, and it’s just going to get better.”

Despite his potential and strong plate discipline, which had him touted highly among prospect rankings last spring, Carter has struggled significantly in recent games. He is only 3 for 37 against southpaws throughout his MLB career, which raises questions about his viability in a competitive lineup.

In contrast, Taveras has been able to secure the center field job, despite also having a difficult hitting record last season, posting the sixth-lowest on-base plus slugging percentage among qualified hitters. This makes for a crucial decision for the Rangers as the 2025 season starts.

The Rangers’ roster adjustments don’t stop there; both Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter have secured spots in the starting rotation, adding more competition to the mix. With other roster decisions piling up, changes were made promptly this week, including informing a dozen players they will not be part of the Opening Day lineup.

“No, it’s not completely set,” Bochy remarked to reporters, indicating that roster plans remain in flux as the team prepares for the opener. “It will probably be a few more days.”

The latest updates also reveal that outfielder Kevin Pillar could be a key addition to the lineup as the Rangers face decisions on who will ultimately fill out their active roster. Texas is looking to build a strong starting roster despite the setbacks and injuries affecting players like Jon Gray and Cody Bradford.

As for Carter, this minor league stint could provide him with much-needed development time to regain form without the pressures of major league play. “We want to make sure he’s playing every day and managing that issue,” Young commented on the decision to option Carter.

The Rangers are looking toward a new season with aspirations of improvement after their past challenges. With Carter’s return on the horizon, fans remain hopeful about his potential impact once fully healthy and back in the lineup.