Most clubs didn't rate Carter as highly in the 2020 Draft as the Rangers, who took him in the second round and signed him away from a Duke commitment for an under-slot $1.25 million. Led by area scout Derrick Tucker, they scouted him heavily and believe other teams would have bought into what they see as five-tool upside if the coronavirus hadn't ended his final high school season after three games. He flew under the radar because he didn't attend many showcase events and he played in an out-of-the-way northeast corner of Tennessee.
One of the youngest and most projectable players in the 2020 Draft, Carter didn't turn 18 until late August and entered pro ball with 190 pounds on a lean 6-foot-4 frame. His loose left-handed swing features plenty of bat speed and leverage, and he impressed with his ability to control the strike zone during instructional league. He could hit for both average and power once he adds more muscle, which he began to do as a high school senior.
With solid to plus speed, Carter can steal some bases and cover ground in center field. His arm earns average to solid grades and would fit in either outfield corner as well. The valedictorian of his Elizabethton (Tenn.) High class, he also draws praise for his intelligence, instincts and makeup.
Because he attended few showcase events and played just three games as an Elizabethton (Tenn.) HS senior before the pandemic ended his 2020 season, Carter was a relative unknown when the Rangers shocked the industry by drafting him in the second round that June. Area scout Derrick Tucker and Texas' upper-level evaluators believed he had five-tool potential when they signed him away from a Duke commitment with a $1.25 million bonus, and he quickly impressed other teams with his ability and polish once he began his pro career. He sparked the Rangers to the 2023 playoffs by posting a 1.058 OPS during a September callup, then slashed .300/.417/.500 while also starring defensively in the postseason as the franchise won its first World Series championship.
Carter's offensive game centers around his preternatural ability to recognize pitches and discern strikes, which has earned him the nickname "Full Count Carter" and allowed him to record a 16.1 chase rate in his big league debut (including the postseason) -- better than the MLB-leading 16.6 mark of official qualifier Juan Soto. Though he was more pull-happy in his first taste of the Majors, he focuses on making hard contact to all fields with a quick left-handed stroke and should have at least average power as he gains more strength and launches more balls in the air. His lone offensive weakness is his production versus left-handers, against whom he slashed .242/.349/.253 in 2023, though the Rangers think he'll improve as he faces more southpaws.
Carter has well-above-average speed and uses it well on the bases, stealing 32 bags in 43 attempts at all levels last year. His quickness and savvy are also assets in center field, where he chases down balls from gap to gap with long, gliding strides. He spent most of his big league debut in left field in deference to Leody Taveras, and his average arm strength allows him to play all three spots. The valedictorian of his high school class, he also impresses with his intelligence and makeup and handled baseball's biggest stage in October with aplomb.
Carter didn't get scouted heavily as an amateur because he attended few showcase events and played just three games as an Elizabethton (Tenn.) HS senior before the pandemic ended his 2020 senior season. But area scout Derrick Tucker and the Rangers believed he had five-tool potential and made him a surprise second-round pick, signing him away from a Duke commitment for an under-slot $1.25 million. He has wowed pro scouts with his ability and polish ever since, advanced to Double-A shortly after turning 20 last summer and helped Frisco win the Texas League championship.
The Rangers' 2022 Minor League player of the year, Carter stands out most for his advanced approach at the plate, where he recognizes pitches and controls the strike zone well beyond his years and uses the entire field. He makes consistent contact with a clean left-handed swing, and his bat speed and the leverage in his lanky 6-foot-2 frame should lead to at least average power once he adds some needed strength and pulls pitches more frequently. He completes his offensive package with plus speed and the savvy to use it well on the bases.
His instincts also are apparent on defense, where Carter uses his quickness and long strides to chase balls down with ease in center field. His arm strength grades as average to solid, so he's capable of manning all three outfield positions, but there's no reason he won't stick in center. The valedictorian of his high school class, he also earns praise for his intelligence and makeup.
Carter went overlooked by many clubs in the 2020 Draft because he hadn't attended many showcase events and played just three games as an Elizabethton(Tenn.) High senior before the pandemic ended his season. But area scout Derrick Tucker and the Rangers saw enough to believe Carter had five-tool potential and selected him in the second round, signing him away from a Duke scholarship for an under-slot $1.25 million. He shed his anonymity with an impressive 2021 pro debut, with some teams evaluating him as Texas' top position-player prospect considering his performance relative to age as an 18-year-old in Low-A.
Though he was one of the youngest players in full-season ball and hadn't faced much pro-caliber competition in the past, Carter wowed scouts with his advanced approach at the plate. Before a stress fracture in his back ended his debut prematurely, he drew 34 walks in 32 games, recognizing pitches and managing the strike zone with aplomb while using the entire field. He has a lean 6-foot-4 frame but has enough bat speed and leverage to produce 20 or more homers on an annual basis once he adds some strength and turns on more pitches.
He not only possesses plus speed but Carter also has the instincts to steal bases and chase down balls in center field. His arm strength grades as average to solid, so he's capable at all three outfield positions. The valedictorian of his high school class, he stands out with his intelligence and makeup in addition to his tools.
Most clubs didn't rate Carter as highly in the 2020 Draft as the Rangers, who took him in the second round and signed him away from a Duke commitment for an under-slot $1.25 million. Led by area scout Derrick Tucker, they scouted him heavily and believe other teams would have bought into what they see as five-tool upside if the coronavirus hadn't ended his final high school season after three games. He flew under the radar because he didn't attend many showcase events and he played in an out-of-the-way northeast corner of Tennessee.
One of the youngest and most projectable players in the 2020 Draft, Carter didn't turn 18 until late August and entered pro ball with 190 pounds on a lean 6-foot-4 frame. His loose left-handed swing features plenty of bat speed and leverage, and he impressed with his ability to control the strike zone during instructional league. He could hit for both average and power once he adds more muscle, which he began to do as a high school senior.
With solid to plus speed, Carter can steal some bases and cover ground in center field. His arm earns average to solid grades and would fit in either outfield corner as well. The valedictorian of his Elizabethton (Tenn.) High class, he also draws praise for his intelligence, instincts and makeup.
The Rangers surprised a lot of teams when they selected Carter in the second round in June and signed him away from a Duke commitment for an under-slot $1.25 million bonus. But they firmly believe in his five-tool upside and believe other clubs would have bought into his talent if the coronavirus hadn't wiped out all but three games of his senior season at Elizabethton (Tenn.) High. He flew under the radar because he didn't attend many showcase events and his part of Tennessee isn't heavily scouted.
Carter was one of the youngest and most projectable players taken in the 2020 Draft, carrying 190 pounds on his lean 6-foot-4 frame and not turning 18 until late August. He has a loose left-handed swing with plenty of bat speed and leverage, so he could hit for both average and power as he adds more strength, which he began to do this spring. His speed earns solid to plus grades from evaluators.
Carter is capable of playing anywhere in the outfield with his quickness and average to solid arm strength. He'll begin his pro career in center field and has a good chance to stick there. The valedictorian of his high school class, he draws raves reviews for his intelligence and makeup.
These run values are leveraged, meaning the base/out situation at the time of the event does impact the run value (thus introducing context outside the batter's own contribution).
Note: xHR tells how many of this player's home runs would have been out of other stadiums. The "Adjusted" view here accounts for different wall heights, distances and environmental effects using Statcast Park Factor data.
Standard
Year
HR
2023
6
6
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
4
5
6
7
6
6
6
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
4
6
6
3
2024
5
7
6
8
5
6
6
7
5
3
3
5
8
6
7
5
3
4
6
6
7
6
9
6
5
3
5
3
7
5
3
Player
11
13
11
14
11
12
12
13
11
7
8
11
15
12
13
11
8
10
12
12
13
12
15
12
11
9
11
7
13
11
6
Note: xHR tells how many of this player's home runs would have been out of other stadiums. The "Standard" view here accounts for different wall heights and distances but excludes environmental effects. It is based purely on the observed trajectory of the hit.
! Note: Shifts are through the 2022 season, Shaded starting from the 2023 season, Shift: three or more infielders are on the same side of second base, Shade: positioned outside of their typical responsible slices of the field. Learn more about how positioning is defined here
