Friday on the Farm: Evan Carter’s hot start a cause for excitement, not immediate promotion

(Wang Brothers Photography)
Three weeks of the 2023 MLB season, and two weeks of the Double A Frisco season, have convinced some around the organization that Evan Carter is the Rangers’ best option in center field.
He was in big-league spring training, too, holding his own and showing his trademark strike-zone judgment and approach at the plate. MLB Pipeline said this week that Carter might have the best eye in minor-league baseball.
Carter popped three homers and swiped three bases in Frisco’s first 11 games while batting .381, and he walked on more time (12) than he struck out.
The kid can play some defense, too.
“It’s pretty incredible what he’s doing, isn’t it?” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said.
Hopes are high, to say the least. He is the Rangers’ top prospect, after all. He could even be in the majors this season.
I disagree. His service time has already been manipulated most likely, so calling him up just means he gets 6 seasons and 5 months of playing time instead of 6 seasons and 2/3 months before free agency. Screw development. They can use him to make the playoffs and just draft Wyatt Langford/Dylan Crews/Max Clark/Walker Jenkins at 1.4 to get another far out prospect.