Inside The Rangers

Texas Rangers Rookies Evan Carter, Josh Jung Rise To Occasion In Playoff Debuts

Texas Rangers cornerstones of the future Josh Jung and Evan Carter come up big in first postseason game.

Stefan Stevenson

Texas Rangers Rookies Evan Carter, Josh Jung Rise To Occasion In Playoff Debuts
Texas Rangers Rookies Evan Carter, Josh Jung Rise To Occasion In Playoff Debuts /
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Corey Seager and Marcus Semien are the current cornerstones of the Texas Rangers resurgence to the postseason.

But two rookies have added integral elements to the club's playoff push and figure to be club cornerstones for the foreseeable future.

Josh Jung, an All-Star at third base in his his first full big league season, and Evan Carter, who made his MLB debut less than a month ago, played significant roles in the Rangers' 4-0 win in Game 1 of their Wild Card Series against the Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday at Tropicana Field. The Rangers can advance to the ALDS with a Game 2 win at 2:08 p.m. Wednesday.

Jung, 25, drove in the Rangers' first run with a opposite-field tee shot to right field in the second inning. Carter, who turned 21 in August, was 2-for-2 with two doubles, two walks and a run scored. Both players made highlight-reel plays on defense. 

"He's just a good hitter. He's got a good eye at the plate, and he's got a good swing," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said of Carter. "For a kid of 21 years old, just love the way he's handling himself through all this."

Both players appeared unfazed by the playoff pressure, perhaps in part because the club has been playing playoff-level games for a month while trying to win the American league West and earn a postseason berth.

"We actually kind of made that a point, for me at least today, of just like, all right, [this is the] postseason, we need to make sure we're calm, cool and collected in the box especially," Carter said. "But, yeah, it's hard to do that, but I'm going to do my best to do that, and hopefully we can keep it rolling the whole series."

"No fear," Seager said of Carter. "He goes out there and he knows himself and he plays confidently. He’s definitely a student of the game. He wants to learn. It’s pretty special with what he’s been able to do."

Carter became the youngest batter in MLB history to reach base four or more times in his postseason debut at 21 years and 35 days. 

Jung was more disappointed about striking out on a nasty Tyler Glasnow curve ball with the bases loaded to end the fifth inning than celebrating his RBI or defensive prowess. The former Texas Tech star was hardly alone in strikeouts. The Rangers struck out 11 times, including eight times to Glasnow.

"Nerves were OK," Jung said, who hopes the strikeout serves as part of a learning process. "Hopefully it helps me as we continue playing."

Jung and Carter became the eight and ninth players in Rangers history to record an RBI in their first-career postseason game. Robinson Chirinos, Delino DeShields and Rougned Odor each did it in Game 1 of the 2015 ALDS at Toronto.

First baseman Nathaniel Lowe said he's stopped being surprised by Carter's poise. 

"No way. That’s a big double off a big-time pitcher right away," Lowe said of Carter's fourth-inning double off Glasnow. "First pitches he sees in his young career in the postseason he hammers the ball in the gap. Maybe he’s just young and naive and doesn’t understand how big the moment it is, but he’s that good of a player and made a big-time play in left field before he even gets to the plate."

Semien, an 11-year veteran and two-time All-Star, has seen Carter up close as the lead-off hitter and Carter has been batting ninth. That won't be the case in 2024 because Carter is likely to be hitting leadoff.

Carter became the first Rangers players to hit two doubles and steal a base in a playoff game. Jurickson Profar, at age 19 in 2012, is the only younger Rangers player than Carter to play in a postseason game.

"He’s been a great asset for us in the nine hole. He’s not afraid of moment," Semien said. "He’s great hitter, with great plate discipline at a young age so you don’t find that too often."

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

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Stefan Stevenson
STEFAN STEVENSON

Stefan Stevenson worked as a journalist and editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for 25 years, covering sports, concerts, and general news. His beats have included the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, and Texas Christian University football.

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