Evan Carter returns with a bang ... and then some
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Evan Carter removed any questions about soreness in his right wrist with an emphatic return to Double-A Frisco's lineup Wednesday night, as MLB Pipeline's No. 8 overall prospect nearly hit for the cycle in his first game back with the RoughRiders since June 1.
Carter tripled in his first at-bat, then homered and singled, leaving him a double shy of the cycle in Frisco's 6-2 loss at Riders Field.
“It’s awesome to be back,” he said after the game. “Nobody ever wants to be sidelined or not playing. So, this is everything that I want. Just the chance to be back out here with all my friends and competing again. So this feels great.
“And you couldn’t ask for a better first game back. Obviously, it’s just one game, so we gotta keep it rolling, but it’s a great start for sure.”
In the bottom of the first inning, the 20-year-old showed great hustle, sprinting out of the batter’s box and safely to third base after scorching a 92 mph fastball off Cardinals prospect Connor Lunn to the alley in right-center field.
Three innings later, Carter launched a changeup from the right-hander into the Riders Field waterfall. The home run jumped off the bat at 101 mph and sailed 386 feet before splashing down in right field.
It was the top Rangers prospect's fifth home run in 42 games with Frisco after he amassed 12 in 106 games last season. He attributes the uptick in power to increased reps on offense.
“I think I’m just more of an experienced hitter this year,” Carter said. “I have more at-bats under my belt now. I’m just learning as I go, really. I’ve just been learning how to hit a bit better and learning from all the people around me. I’ve been getting more experience, so hopefully, we can keep it rolling.”
After grounding a single center in the sixth, Carter had a chance to complete the cycle in the final frame but ended up reaching first on a fielding error by first baseman Chandler Redmond.
But despite falling short of the milestone in a loss, ultimately the game's No. 3 outfield prospect was pleased with his performance in his return to the RoughRiders.
“It’s a good first step back in,” Carter said. “[Playing in] Double-A is hard. Baseball is hard. Anytime you start slow, it’s tough. But this is definitely putting the right foot forward. So, I’m grateful things turned out the way it did.”
He said he no longer feels any discomfort in the wrist and is scheduled to slide back into everyday action without caution.
“I feel great … 100 percent,” Carter said. “I feel good. I’m ready to keep it going.”