The Rangers are expected to monitor Carter's back closely throughout the 2025 season, though he's been reluctant to reveal his exact diagnosis, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Carter made it clear that discussing the back injury isn't exactly his favorite topic. However, he noted that the issue could be considered chronic inflammation since it's flared up in two of his last three seasons. "I kind of want to keep it personal," said Carter when asked about his diagnosis. "It's personal to me and we're going to keep it that way. I can't change it. It's a part of me now, but we've got a plan." This update feels a bit ominous after it was previously reported that he'd enter spring training without any restrictions, as it sounds as though the back injury could flare up at various points during the year. Manager Bruce Bochy noted that the level of concern is low entering camp, but the team plans to monitor the 22-year-old closely, which could mean regular rest days.

Carter (back) could be considered for the leadoff spot in the Rangers' lineup, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Marcus Semien has started 309 of the Rangers' 324 regular-season games over the last two seasons in the leadoff spot and is the favorite to be at the top of the batting order again. However, he had just a .308 on-base percentage in 2024 and the Rangers are leaving open the possibility of using him in a different spot. Carter has the skill set for a leadoff hitter with his terrific batting eye, but he's not even a given to be a starter right now and needs to show last season's back issues are behind him. The left-handed hitting Carter has struggled mightily versus southpaws, so if he does bat leadoff it would surely only be against right-handers. Carter had an ablation procedure on his back in October but is expected to enter spring training without restrictions.

Carter (back) no longer has any restrictions on what he can do in the field or weight room, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The promise Carter showed in 2023, when he batted .306 (1.058 OPS) in 23 regular-season games and appeared in 17 postseason games for the eventual World Series champs, never materialized in 2024. The outfielder endured a slow start and then a stress reaction in his back in May. He was eventually shut down after multiple attempts to ramp up. The 22-year-old added strength and bulked up during the offseason in preparation for what is expected to be a normal spring. A healthy Carter should be a regular in the Rangers' outfield, most likely center field.

Carter (back) has been swinging a bat and is expected to be 100 percent for the start of spring training, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Carter was limited to just 45 games this season due to a nagging back problem and underwent an ablation procedure in October to remove tissue from his back. The expectation is that he'll be without restrictions once spring training rolls around. The 22-year-old posted just a .633 OPS over 162 plate appearances in 2024 but should enter 2025 with a regular role for the Rangers.

Carter underwent an ablation procedure on his back last week, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The procedure removed some tissue that had been affecting his recovery from a lower-back stress reaction that limited him to just 45 games this season. Carter has been cleared to begin a hitting progression, with the hope that he'll have a normal offseason and be 100 percent healthy by spring training.

Carter (back) said Sunday that he doesn't expect to require surgery and hopes to resume swinging a bat in 9-to-10 weeks, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rangers general manager Chris Young said earlier this week that Carter was unlikely to make it back from the 60-day injured list before the regular season ends Sept. 29. Based on the timeline he provided for himself to resume swinging the bat, Carter already seems to be ruling himself out for the postseason, barring the Rangers making another trip to the World Series to extend their playoff run into late October and early November. After his star turn in the 2023 playoffs, Carter was tabbed as a leading contender for the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year award, but the 21-year-old slashed a lowly .188/.272/.361 in 162 plate appearances for Texas before being placed on the injured list May 28 with a lower-back stress reaction. Carter should still have an everyday role waiting for him in 2025, assuming he makes a full recovery from the back injury over the winter.

Rangers GM Chris Young said Tuesday that Carter (back) isn't expected to play again during the regular season, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 21-year-old has been on the shelf since late May due to a lumbar sprain, and it appears he won't be rejoining the Rangers until at least October. Young didn't indicate that Carter has suffered a setback, but that the outfielder simply needs more time to rest his back. Wyatt Langford, Leody Taveras and Adolis Garcia should continue to operate as Texas' primary outfield down the stretch, with veterans Travis Jankowski and Robbie Grossman serving as reserve options.

The Rangers transferred Carter (back) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Carter has already missed more than two months after landing on the 10-day IL on May 28 with a lumbar sprain, so his move to the 60-day IL won't affect his timeline for a return to the big club. At this point, it's unclear whether Carter will even be able to play again in 2024, as he was shut down from baseball activities Friday and was scheduled to get a second opinion on his back injury from a doctor in California. The Rangers should provide an update on Carter's condition once his visit with the specialist is completed, but even if the outfielder is given the green light to resume baseball activities, he'll still likely need multiple weeks to ramp up before he would be ready for big-league action.

Carter was shut down from baseball activities Friday and will get a second opinion on his lower back soreness, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Carter is set to visit a specialist in California, and the Rangers will reassess the outfielder's condition and map out steps for his recovery pending the results of the appointment. "He's just not coming along like we were hoping," Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. There had been talk of Carter beginning a rehab assignment next week, but those plans are on hold.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday that Carter (back) is "about a week behind" Josh Jung (wrist) in their respective timelines to return from the injured list, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jung has already been cleared to begin a rehab assignment Friday with Double-A Frisco, so given Bochy's comments, Carter could be ready for a minor-league assignment of his own by next weekend. The outfielder has been on the shelf since May 28 with a lower-back stress reaction and made limited progress over the first month of his absence before turning the corner in his recovery over the past couple of weeks. Carter took live batting practice earlier this week and should gradually incorporate more baseball activities into his workout regimen before the Rangers map out a rehab assignment for him.