Texas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter underwent arthroscopic right hip surgery last week to repair a labral tear and address hip impingement, and is unlikely to be ready for the March 24, 2027, season opener.
Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young confirmed the procedure Monday. Dr. William Robertson performed the surgery. Diagnostic testing during the offseason revealed the structural issue after Carter’s exit physical incorrectly attributed his discomfort to muscular causes.
TOP NEWS
Carter played 141 games in 2026 — all 112 of his defensive appearances came in center field. He batted .194 with nine home runs, 40 RBI and 17 stolen bases.
The estimated recovery period is about six months. Young said the Rangers expect Carter to play most of the 2027 season but emphasized this offseason will focus entirely on rehabilitation, not training.
Carter, 24, made his MLB debut in September 2023 at age 21 as part of the Rangers’ World Series championship team. He hit .306 with five homers and 12 RBI in 23 regular-season games and reached base in all 17 postseason contests, batting .300 with nine doubles and 10 walks.
He appeared in 108 of 324 possible games across 2024 and 2025 due to injuries. Carter missed most of 2024 with a lower back condition. In 2025, he landed on the injured list three times — for a right quadriceps strain, back spasms and a fractured right wrist.
In 272 career MLB games, Carter has batted .215 with 24 home runs and 92 RBI. Young said team doctors anticipate a full recovery.
With Carter sidelined, the Rangers have internal options in center field. Utility player Ezequiel Duran started 14 games there in 2026 and won a Gold Glove award Sunday as a utility player. Left fielder Wyatt Langford made 13 starts in center.
Young declined to detail long-term plans for center field, noting potential roster moves could affect the approach.
Assistant hitting coach Alex Cintron will not return in that full-time role but will remain in the organization’s hitting department. Young said the decision was Cintron’s. Assistant pitching coach Dave Bush also will not return, and the Rangers have no plans to fill that position. Manager Skip Schumaker’s remaining staff is set to return in 2027.
More: MLB · Texas Rangers
