The Texas Rangers made an interesting move with Evan Carter on Sunday that could signal a shift in their long-term lineup strategy.
It wasn’t about facing a left-handed pitcher that’s something Texas has already tried this season, though Carter has yet to record a hit in those situations.
Instead, during their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Rangers placed Carter in the No. 2 spot in the batting order a position usually held by Wyatt Langford, who has been sidelined with a quad issue and missed his second straight game.
Before this, Carter had never hit higher than sixth this season. The experiment paid off: he went 1-for-3 and hit his second home run in three games. The move may offer insight into how the team could use him going forward.
Carter hasn’t regularly batted second since 2024, a season cut short by injury. Over his career, Texas has moved him around the lineup, though he was mostly used in the middle-to-lower order last year. His recent performance combined with strong plate discipline and a solid on-base percentage suggests he could eventually fit well near the top of the order.
If that happens, pairing him with a high on-base player like Brandon Nimmo could give Texas a strong one-two combination at the top. Meanwhile, if Langford regains form, the team would have added flexibility potentially reshuffling the lineup to better support hitters like Corey Seager or Jake Burger.
It’s still early and based on a small sample, but if Carter continues to perform well in that role, it could open up more strategic options for the Rangers in the future.
Leave a Reply