Rangers predicted to get breakout year from .765 OPS outfielder with major asterisk originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Texas Rangers have made some changes to the roster in the last year, and while the AL West, with the revamped Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners, won’t be easy, the Rangers should have good odds to win the division.
Getting big seasons from their young stars would be a big boost, and Wyatt Langford looks set to have an All-Star season. But he’s not the only one who could have a big year.
As Keith Law of The Athletic predicts, the Rangers could get a breakout year from .765 OPS outfielder Evan Carter in 2026. But, this prediction comes with a major asterisk, as Carter’s predicted breakout is only as a platoon player.
Rangers’ Evan Carter predicted to break out as a platoon hitter in 2026
“This one comes with an asterisk: I think Carter will break out, but as a platoon player,” Law writes. “He hits right-handed pitching well enough to see him playing like an All-Star against them.”
Carter, the left-handed hitting outfielder who’s just 23 years old, having a breakout year would be huge for the Rangers. And while this prediction is an exciting one, it’s a slightly lackluster one.
Getting a breakout year from Carter would be nice, but if it’s only as a platoon hitter, then the Rangers will still have a hole on the roster even if Carter is a great hitter against righty pitching.
Last season, Carter hit .087 against lefty pitchers across 23 at-bats. His .269 average against right-handed pitching was solid, as was his .782 OPS. But a terrible .337 OPS against lefty pitchers makes him unplayable against a lefty.
His career numbers against lefty pitching are even worse, as he’s hitting .083 with a .275 OPS across 68 at-bats since 2023 against left-handed pitching.
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Carter is having a solid spring training, hitting .222 with two home runs, six RBIs, one stolen base, and a .909 OPS across 27 at-bats.
But his main work is coming against right-handed pitching. While he’s predicted to have a breakout year for the Rangers, it’s only predicted to come against right-handed pitching.
While seeing Carter break out as a platoon hitter is a bit of a lackluster breakout season, it would still be a nice plus to have an elite hitter to turn to against any righty pitcher that takes the mound.
There might be an easy counter for Carter with a lefty pitcher, but if he can be All-Star caliber against righties, then Carter could be a valuable hitter for the Rangers in 2026.
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