ARLINGTON, Texas — Friday night’s matchup between the Texas Rangers and the Chicago White Sox took an unexpected turn when standout center fielder Evan Carter had to leave the game due to soreness in his right wrist. This development happened a few innings after Carter executed an impressive diving catch, which led to the injury.
The highlight-worthy catch, which occurred as Mike Tauchman led off the fourth inning, initially took center stage. To complete the play, Carter thrust his right hand into the ground for support while extending his gloved left hand to secure the ball. It was a move that certainly thrilled the crowd but ended up having unintended consequences. He was substituted in the seventh inning.
Carter remained optimistic after the Rangers clinched a 3-1 win, stating, “I think it’ll be fine. It’s not broken, it’s just jammed … landed on it pretty hard.” The center fielder mentioned he was advised to take some medication, anticipating inflammation in the affected area.
“It’s all about how it feels tomorrow,” Carter explained. “If I can tape it up, minimize the movement, and don’t feel the pain, I’ll play. The plan is to rest and see how the wrist recovers by morning.”
Texas Rangers’ Manager Bruce Bochy echoed Carter’s sentiment, suggesting that the issue might not be severe, which could allow Carter to return to the field soon. “But more than likely he’ll get a day, see if we can calm that down,” Bochy stated. “We’ll evaluate him again tomorrow to see where things stand.”
During the game’s seventh inning, the defensive alignment shifted as Wyatt Langford transitioned from left field to center, and Sam Haggerty stepped in to cover left field.
Carter noted that discomfort flared up immediately after the catch, and batting became challenging due to the placement of his injured hand on the bat. Despite strong recent performances and an impressive run of three home runs over the last four games, Carter’s encounter with the White Sox left him 0 for 2 with just one walk following his defensive spectacle.