The Texas Rangers have built a rotation that looks ready to compete deep into the 2026 season. The arms are there, and the ability to get outs shouldn’t be a problem. But if they’re going to make another serious run, especially in a stacked American League, it’s going to come down to whether the bats can keep pace – and that’s where Evan Carter becomes a central figure.

Carter’s name still carries weight in Arlington, thanks to his breakout performance during the Rangers’ 2023 World Series run. Back then, he looked like the next big thing – a poised, dynamic hitter who thrived under the postseason spotlight.

But since then, it’s been a bumpy road. Injuries have repeatedly stalled his momentum, and while the flashes of elite talent are still there, they’ve come in frustratingly short bursts.

Now, entering 2026, the Rangers are banking on a full season from Carter – and not just any season, but one that lives up to the immense potential he’s teased since his big-league debut. He’s projected to be the everyday center fielder, and that’s no small responsibility on a team with postseason aspirations.

When healthy last year, Carter posted a solid 114 OPS+ across 63 games. That’s encouraging – but the key phrase there is “when healthy.”

Over the past two seasons, he’s made four trips to the injured list. Availability, as they say, is the best ability – and Carter hasn’t had enough of it.

The Rangers are hoping this is the year that changes.

The talent has never been in question. Carter’s plate discipline, speed, and gap-to-gap power give him the tools to be a top-of-the-order force.

He’s the kind of player who can set the tone for an offense – getting on base, pressuring pitchers, and turning singles into doubles with his legs. But staying on the field consistently is the first hurdle, and it’s a big one.

Injuries don’t just sideline you; they linger. Even when a player is technically “back,” the body doesn’t always cooperate at full speed.

Timing can be off. Strength can lag.

Confidence can waver. That’s the challenge Carter is facing – not just returning, but returning at full throttle.

The Rangers aren’t putting all their eggs in one basket, of course. Wyatt Langford, another young outfielder with sky-high potential, is also expected to play a major role.

Between Langford and Carter, Texas has two of the most physically gifted young players in the league patrolling the outfield. If both hit their stride in 2026, the Rangers’ lineup gets a whole lot more dangerous – and their ceiling as a team rises dramatically.

But that’s a big “if.”

Carter’s health remains the swing factor. If he can stay upright and perform anywhere near his potential, he gives Texas a legitimate weapon in the heart of the lineup. And in a season where the pitching looks ready to carry its weight, that could be the difference between a solid year and a special one.

The Rangers don’t just need Evan Carter on the field – they need the version of him that lit up October back in 2023. If that player shows up again in 2026, the rest of the American League better be ready.