Clutch Carter: Rookie's Home Run Blast Helps Send Texas Rangers To ALDS

Evan Carter's red-hot start in the postseason factored heavily into the Texas Rangers advancing to the ALDS.

When Evan Carter was called up last month to join the Texas Rangers, he was expected to ease his way into stardom. 

But there's the keyword: star. Carter has that "it" factor that could make him one of MLB's more menacing sluggers in the not-so-distant future. 

And he gave Rangers' fans a taste of what's in store with one swing in the fourth inning. 

Carter launched a towering 391-foot home run off Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zach Eflin to extend the Rangers' lead by four en route to a 7-1 series-clinching win. Texas moves on to the American League Divisional Series against the top-seeded Baltimore Orioles with an extra day's rest.

Carter, 21,  became the youngest player in Rangers' history to homer in a postseason game and joined Mitch Moreland as the second rookie to accomplish the feat. The budding breakout star finished 1-for-2 at the plate and also drew two walks. 

"It's a team effort for sure," said Carter. "Everybody's coming together. Nobody panicked." 

Despite his age, Carter's regular season experience likely factored into his discipline at the plate during the Rangers' two-day stay in St. Petersburg. Texas manager Bruce Bochy never felt pressured into adding more to Carter's plate once he was called up from Triple-A Round Rock on Sept. 8. Bochy has kept Carter hitting at the bottom of the order. That might change.

Carter never gave the skipper a reason to push him out of the starting lineup. Listed as MLB Pipeline's No. 8 overall prospect, Carter carried himself like a pro, hitting .306/.413/.645 with a 1.058 OPS during the 23 big league regular season games as the Rangers' everyday left fielder. 

"He's just a good hitter," Bochy said Tuesday following the Rangers' 4-0 victory. "He's got a good eye at the plate, he's got a good swing and for a kid at 21 years old, you're just loving the way he's handling himself through all this." 

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

— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) October 4, 2023

If Tuesday was Carter's opening act, hope for Wednesday to be another small sample of what could be a headlining performance in the ALDS starting at noon Saturday at Camden Yards. In Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, he ripped a pair of doubles and walked twice to become the youngest player in MLB history to reach base safely four times in his postseason debut. 

He also made a diving grab in the first inning that likely saved a run and set the tone for the next eight frames. 

On Wednesday he followed an Adolis Garcia solo blast and a Josh Jung RBI triple, with a first-pitch blast into the right-field stands. Mission accomplished. 

"There's a lot of work and preparation and stuff, talking to older people on the team with a lot of experience, picking their brains, and making game plans," Carter said Wednesday. "It's been great." 

The last three months have been a whirlwind for the rookie. He's gone from Double-A to Triple-A to postseason hero within 90 days. Most people his age are lucky to be on time for work or class, let alone handle the pressure of helping a team advance one step closer to a World Series title. 

pic.twitter.com/wFkLKPrzz6

— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) October 4, 2023

The Rangers are taking it day by day. So is Carter. 

"As far as the future goes, we're here right now," said Carter. "We're in the playoff hunt, so we're worried about that, but we're here to win it all."

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