The Sunday Read: Why it’s apparent, after only two weeks, that Evan Carter is here to stay
(AP photo/LM Otero)
ARLINGTON — Tracking the careers of the 23,086 players who debuted in the majors before him tells us that Evan Carter isn’t always going to be this good.
He’s up to a whopping 40 career at-bats, theoretically on his way to 7,000 or 8,000. He’s only 21 after all.
Carter is a young 21, too, having gained legal drinking status Aug. 28.
At some point over the next 7,960 at-bats, he’s going to chase a pitch out of the strike zone or make some kind of other mistake. His heart rate will tick up. He might even get so flustered that he curses.
He has played in 14 major-league games, all which have come in the thick of a pennant chase, and he’s reached in every one of them. The Rangers are 9-5 when he’s been in the lineup.
Carter has become indispensable.
Carter is a phenom. I saw his next to last AA game. If not for Adolis injury he may still be in AAA. That injury might just turn out leading the Rangers to a Division title (and bye).
They could even win their first playoff series since 2011 (trigger warning). But, imagine if they go deep into the playoffs and convince Kershaw to sign one of those 1 year 20 MM deals. Start of season rotation: Kershaw, Eovaldi, Scherzer, Dunning, and Heaney and a end of year rotation of Kershaw, deGrom, Eovaldi, Scherzer, and Dunning! The 2 lowest career ERA since 1961 belong to Kershaw and deGrom. Imagine!
Jordan Montgomery would look pretty good in the rotation the next few seasons.
He’s been great. HIs discipline in the face of a pennant chase has been remarkable.