Birthday boy Carter racks up 4 hits in Express debut

Who says you can't have your cake and eat it, too?

Barely 24 hours after his promotion to Triple-A, Evan Carter gave himself an unforgettable 21st birthday present ... four, to be exact.

MLB Pipeline's No. 8 overall prospect equaled a career high with four hits in his Triple-A debut and added an RBI and a stolen base for good measure in Round Rock's 10-9 win over Oklahoma City at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on Tuesday.

The Rangers knew they were getting a good hitter when they selected him in the second round of the 2020 Draft, but the top-ranked Rangers prospect has zoomed to the top of everyone's list of top-tier talent.

Carter wasted no time getting his first Triple-A knock out of the way, beating out an infield single to shortstop in the top of the first inning. The lefty-swinging outfielder followed with his first RBI for the Express on a single to center field in the second and swiped his first base.

Carter added two more singles to his ledger and had a chance for a fifth but struck out in the ninth. The fifth four-hit game of Carter's career and third this season put a bow on a special 24 hours for for the Tennessee native, who was slashing .284/.411/.451 with 33 extra-base hits, 12 homers, 62 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in 97 games for Double-A Frisco prior to his promotion.

Evan Carter legs it out and picks up his first Triple-A hit with the #RRExpress! 🏃‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/7ZiaPHwkAC

— Round Rock Express (@RRExpress) August 30, 2023

“He's really turned it on [in the second half], and he’s been very good,” said Rangers general manager Chris Young. “We're excited. We feel the same about him as we have since the beginning of the year. He's a tremendously talented player. He embodies Ranger values and we’re excited about his future.”

Carter's Pacific Coast League debut might have happened sooner if not for a nagging hand injury he suffered in May after he was hit by a pitch. Coincidence or not, Carter endured his worst month of the season (.236/.333/.281) and he eventually missed several weeks after being placed on the injured list.

Carter returned to Frisco on June 21 and made a bid for a cycle, falling a double shy. He hit .290 with a .917 OPS in his final 56 games in Double-A.

The Rangers' 2022 Minor League Player of the Year, Carter slashed .295/.397/.489 with 43 extra-base hits, 73 RBIs and 28 stolen bases between High-A Hickory and Frisco, and also took home his first Gold Glove.