03/23/26 10:19:00
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03/23 22:17 CDT Rangers rookie pitcher finds out he made the team during a
mound visit from manager
Rangers rookie pitcher finds out he made the team during a mound visit from
manager
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) --- The mound visit Carter Baumler received from Texas
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker wasn't to take the rookie right-hander out of
his last spring training game, but rather to let him know he made the opening
day roster.
Schumaker came out of the dugout after Baumler retired the first two Kansas
City Royals batters in the fifth inning Monday night. Texas catcher Danny
Jansen and all four infielders were also on the mound when the new Rangers
manager told the 24-year-old reliever he will start the season in the Texas
bullpen.
"I wasn't expecting it. I was like, why is he coming out here? And he got on
the mound and told me I made the team," Baumler said during an in-game TV
interview on the Rangers Sports Network. "I mean, honestly, I thought I was
like getting taken out of the game. ... Obviously, whenever the manager comes
out, you're usually done."
Jansen patted his catcher's mitt on Baumler's chest and the infielders offered
their congratulations. Baumler, looking to make his major league debut after
never pitching above Double-A, had a big smile on his face but composed himself
to strike out Isaac Collins swinging on a 96.8 mph fastball to end the inning.
In his eight spring training games, Baumler allowed one earned run and struck
out 10 over 9 1/3 innings.
Baumler hugged Schumaker when he got back to the dugout after the third out,
then was greeted by high-fives from teammates.
Baumler was selected by Baltimore in the fifth round of the 2020 amateur draft
out of high school in Iowa and had Tommy John surgery soon after that. He
pitched in the Orioles organization from 2022-25, but was left off their 40-man
roster last fall. He was scooped up by Pittsburgh in the first round of the
Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings in December and traded to Texas the same
day.
"A few years ago I never would have expected this," Baumler said. "Looking back
... I'm glad I kept my head down and kept hammering away."
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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