Dynamic Rookie Duo Evan Carter, Josh Jung Lead Texas Rangers To ALDS Win Over Baltimore Orioles

Rookies Evan Carter and Josh Jung help lead the Texas Rangers to a Game 1 ALDS win over the Baltimore Orioles.

BALTIMORE — A month ago Sunday, Evan Carter was with Triple-A Round Rock.

The Texas Rangers' top prospect was just nine days removed from his promotion from Double-A Round Rock and 10 days from turning 21.

Yeah, Carter has come a long way in a short time.

Carter and fellow rookie Josh Jung continued to punish opposing postseason pitching in the Rangers' 3-2 Game 1 ALDS win over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

"I was in Triple-A, grinding it out in the Texas heat," Carter said with a smile. "It was probably 110 degrees somewhere, I don't remember where we were at. This is really exciting up here, too."

Carter kept up his historic pace by reaching base three more times in Saturday's win. In three postseason games, Carter is 4-for-6 with five walks, three doubles, a home run, three runs and three RBI. Oh, and he has a stolen base.

Jung is 4-for-14 with two doubles, a triple, a homer, three runs and three RBI. And both have made stellar defensive plays, including Jung, who snared a short-hop to start a 5-4-3 double play with no outs and runners on first and second in the eighth.

Rookies continue to deliver in the #Postseason!

Josh Jung with his first playoff homer for the @Rangers. pic.twitter.com/pDjUGZy8zO

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 7, 2023

"That double play was not an easy play and he made it look easy," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's swinging the bat well and getting his timing back to where it was. He missed some time [with an injury]. It takes a while. Now you're looking at the guy that we saw all year. It's just his defense, it's just been outstanding here."

WOW! What a double play by Josh Jung and the @Rangers 👏

📺: @FS1 pic.twitter.com/og4v6MPTgl

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 7, 2023

Carter is the first player in MLB history to have an extra-base hit, walk and run scored in each of his first three career postseason games. Bochy is running out of superlatives for him.

"I've said so many things about him, I don't know what else to say," Bochy said. "This kid has handled himself so well ... he's a gifted hitter, he's got a great eye at the plate and it works. We moved him to the 5-hole and it didn't faze him one bit. He just sees the ball so well."

Rangers general manager Chris Young saluted the organization, including the amateur scouting department and player development staff for finding and producing two homegrown stars in the making.

"It’s exciting for the future of the franchise that we have these guys," Young said. "Here they are helping us compete for a world championship and making an impact. Hopefully, it’s the beginning of a lot of this."

Jung was called up last year after Texas took him eighth overall in the 2019 draft out of Texas Tech. All he did was earn an All-Star start at third base as a rookie this season. Carter was the 50th overall pick in the 2020 draft.

Carter credits Jung for helping him over the past month.

"He's on a long list of people that have helped me out a lot this year, as far as just pointing me in the right direction with routines," he said. "This is what this [pitcher] feels like, this is how you act."

The rookies gotta stick together.

Evan Carter speaks on the impact that Josh Jung has had on his career!
@Rangers | #GoAndTakeIt 📺: BSSW pic.twitter.com/PL5wn2md9Z

— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) October 7, 2023

For Young, watching Carter blossom in the postseason has been a joy, not just because of his production, but his youthful zeal for the game.

"Just the smile on his face when he goes out there every day. He’s so happy and calm," Young said. "It’s fun to see, it’s like a kid ... to see the joy that he plays with. It’s just awesome to see. He reminds you of why you love this game."

Watch: Bikini-Clad Streaker Pauses ALDS Opener

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

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