STWF Sports | FRISCO, Texas | June 26, 2026 — The Frisco RoughRiders are set to welcome back one of the most recognizable names in their recent player-development pipeline.
Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Frisco on Friday night when the RoughRiders visit the Amarillo Sod Poodles, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, at HODGETOWN. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Carter, 23, is working his way back from a right oblique strain that landed him on the 10-day injured list on June 13. The rehab assignment marks another step toward his return to the Rangers’ big-league roster and brings him back to a level where he played a significant role before becoming one of the breakout stories of Texas’ 2023 championship run.
The Elizabethton, Tennessee, native is in his fourth season at the Major League level. Since making his debut in 2023, Carter has appeared in 197 career MLB games and owns a .703 career OPS. While injuries have interrupted portions of his young career, his ability to impact games with plate discipline, defense and athleticism has kept him firmly in the Rangers’ long-term picture.
Carter’s rise through the Texas system was rapid, but his time in Frisco remains an important chapter. He first debuted with the RoughRiders in 2022, collecting nine hits across six games. He returned in 2023 and spent most of that season in Double-A, playing 97 games for Frisco before earning his first call to the majors.
During that 2023 run with the RoughRiders, Carter hit .284 with 12 home runs and a .411 on-base percentage. His production helped establish him as one of the premier prospects in the Rangers organization and one of the most difficult outs in the Texas League. He later earned Texas League Postseason All-Star honors before making his Major League debut.
Once Carter reached Texas, he wasted little time proving he was ready for the biggest stage.
As a rookie in 2023, Carter became a key piece for the Rangers down the stretch. He hit .306 with five home runs and a 1.058 OPS over 23 regular-season games, giving Texas a late-season spark and adding balance to the lineup. His calm approach at the plate, ability to control the strike zone and willingness to use the entire field helped him quickly earn trust in high-leverage situations.
That trust carried into October, where Carter became one of the defining young contributors of the Rangers’ World Series run. He played in 17 postseason games and hit .300 across 60 at-bats. His nine doubles set an MLB record for a single postseason, a remarkable achievement for a rookie playing under playoff pressure.
Before the national spotlight, however, Carter built much of that foundation in Frisco. His ability to handle Double-A pitching, work deep counts and consistently reach base helped prepare him for the jump to the majors. That makes his return to the RoughRiders on rehab assignment a full-circle moment for both Carter and the organization.
Carter was originally selected by the Rangers in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Elizabethton High School. At the time, he was viewed as a high-upside prep outfielder with strong athletic tools and advanced feel. Since then, he has developed into one of the most notable success stories in the Rangers’ recent draft-and-development system.
For Frisco, Carter’s assignment adds major intrigue to the current road series in Amarillo. The RoughRiders have already opened the second half with strong offensive production at HODGETOWN, and Carter’s presence gives the lineup another high-profile bat as he builds back toward full strength.
Rehab assignments are often about timing, rhythm and health more than results. For Carter, the priority will be seeing pitches, testing his swing and body movement, and progressing without setbacks. Still, his return to game action is a positive sign for Texas as the Rangers look to get one of their young outfield pieces back into the fold.
For RoughRiders fans, it is also a chance to see a familiar name return to the system that helped launch him toward postseason stardom.
Carter’s road back to Arlington begins in Amarillo, but his Frisco connection remains clear. Before he became a World Series contributor, he was a RoughRider sharpening his game in Double-A. Now, the next step in his return runs through that same developmental path.
