Evan Carter -- General News

Texas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter delivered a two-run inside-the-park home run in the third inning of Thursday's 6-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Carter connected on a fastball from Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler, sending it to the warning track in right-center field. Initially believing the ball might be caught, Carter accelerated when he saw it ricochet off the bullpen wall. He reached second base before realizing the play would develop into more, and after spotting third base coach Corey Ragsdale's aggressive windmill signal, he kicked into high gear down the line. Carter completed the circuit in 15.9 seconds, sliding safely into home plate ahead of catcher Joey Bart's tag. The 23-year-old's athletic display represented the first inside-the-park home run by a Rangers player since left fielder Wyatt Langford accomplished the feat two seasons ago in his first career major league home run. Carter's performance was part of a dominant offensive display that powered Texas to victory in the series against Pittsburgh.

Evan Carter hit an inside-the-park home run in the third inning of Thursday's 6-1 Rangers victory over the Pirates, giving Texas a 2-0 lead. The at-bat began controversially when Pirates catcher Joey Bart successfully challenged what Carter believed was ball four, overturning the call to a strike. With the count at 3-1, Carter subsequently worked to a full count before connecting on a fastball to center field. The ball traveled 385 feet and ricocheted off right fielder Ryan O'Hearn's glove before bouncing into no-man's land in center field. Carter circled the bases in 15.28 seconds, reaching a top speed of 28.6 feet/per second, and slid headfirst into home plate for the inside-the-park home run.

Carter reflected on the play's progression, noting his initial belief the ball was a home run, followed by concerns O'Hearn would catch it, then recognition he might have a double or triple before third-base coach Corey Ragsdale signaled him to keep running. The homer marked Carter's first career inside-the-park home run and the first by a Rangers player since Wyatt Langford's on April 28, 2024. This was also Carter's third career full-count home run including postseason play, reinforcing his reputation as 'Full Count Carter.' Carter emphasized that the most rewarding aspect was the enthusiasm of his teammates, particularly Josh Jung, as they returned to the dugout together.

With Wyatt Langford recovering from a strained forearm, the Texas Rangers have turned to center fielder Evan Carter for increased playing time, particularly against left-handed pitching. Manager Skip Schumaker believes Carter can contribute defensively despite his offensive struggles, noting that his elite center field play provides value through run prevention. The Rangers have limited options in their outfield configuration while Langford is out, as backup left-handed hitters like Alejandro Osuna would create redundancy in the lineup.

However, Carter faces significant pressure to prove he can be effective against southpaws. His performance against lefties has been dismal: he went 0 for 17 against them in 2026 and has not recorded a hit against left-handed pitchers since last June (0 for 32). His career-long struggle is even more pronounced, with a .065 average (5 for 77) against lefties. After striking out twice against New York's Max Fried on Monday, Carter may face additional opportunities against left-handed arms in the coming week, including potentially the Yankees' Ryan Weathers if Langford's recovery extends beyond the first week of May.