Will Evan Carter Move Up In Texas Rangers Lineup?

Texas Rangers rookie Evan Carter has been on fire in two postseason games batting ninth. Could he be moved up in the order?

BALTIMORE — Every Texas Rangers fan has been thinking about it.

We've all been thinking about it. When will the Texas Rangers move Evan Carter up in the batting order?

Since being called up from Triple-A Round Rock on Sept. 8, Carter has hit in the No. 9 spot. That worked out well, as the rookie hit .306 with five home runs, 12 RBI, and 15 runs scored. And through two games in the postseason, Carter has turned it up a notch, hitting .750 with two doubles, a homer, three walks and two RBI.

Evan Carter, Texas Ranger pic.twitter.com/dyRvEzAYKv

— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) October 4, 2023

The Rangers' top prospect was always destined to hit near the top of the order down the road, but what about now? Hasn't his performance garnered consideration for maybe batting third? The Rangers open the ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles at noon Saturday at Camden Yards.

"Of course it does. You look at what he's done. He handles himself so well. He could go there, or in the 5 hole, so anywhere in the order," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. "We'll work out what we think is the best way to set up the lineup."

Nathaniel Lowe had batted third for most of the season but was moved down after a slump in August. Robbie Grossman batted third in the two Wild Card wins against Tampa Bay. Mitch Garver has also hit third.

"We've mixed it up. So it is something we do talk about," Bochy said. "I wouldn't call that a challenge so much as we look at the pitcher that's going that day. But it doesn't mean we don't tweak the lineup, which you've seen us do before. We could tweak it [Saturday]. We just finished talking about it a little bit. We'll finish talking about it soon."

Bochy doesn't think Carter would be fazed by moving up in the order. But he also likes having a potent hitter deep in the lineup.

"For someone like Carter, I don't think he's going to be affected," he said. "He certainly hasn't shown it. He's just having a lot of fun playing. And I don't think he cares where he hits in the lineup. So sometimes you go, 'well, it's not broke, don't fix it, with how it's going with him hitting there.' I would have no concern putting him somewhere else."

Veteran second baseman Marcus Semien has been amazed at Carter's maturity. Carter turned 21 on Aug. 28. Not only his off-the-field maturity but his hitting maturity.

"It's been a very mature approach at the plate for such a young hitter. I remember when I was his age, still in the Minor Leagues, I was still trying to figure things out. A lot more swing and miss," Semien said. "I think he's learned a lot from what we talk about in Spring Training as a group. How he's implemented it, I think he has qualities that we want here. For him to be hitting in the 9 hole in front of me, it's nice when he's on base. So it's time for me to get hot."

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— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) October 4, 2023

The team is still getting to know Carter well, but what everyone has said, from general manager Chris Young, to Corey Seager, to Bochy, is that the rookie has shown uncommon fearlessness. Young said Carter has shown "no fair" in the big moments.

Semien agrees.

"What I've learned from him is he's very calm in the big moment, and that's very rare," he said.

Scherzer Throws BP Before ALDS Opener

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

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