Carter

Baumler

Baumler suffered the injury during Saturday’s outing against the Reds. Through his first four appearances with the Rangers, the 24-year-old hurler had registered a 3.18 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and a 6/6 K/BB ratio over 5 2/3 innings. No word yet on how much time he may miss. Luis Curvelo was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move on Sunday.

Schumaker elaborated that he’s comfortable with both Robert Garcia and Chris Martin handling the ninth-inning duties but added that there’s a chance a few different guys get opportunities. It’s not exactly a ringing endorsement from Texas’ skipper but we would be surprised to see someone other than Garcia or Martin coming through the bullpen gates at the start of the year based on their high-leverage experience. The interesting dark horse name to watch long-term is Rule 5 pick Carter Baumler based on his impressive stuff.

Baumler has yet to pitch above Double-A in his career, but that didn’t stop the Rangers from selecting him in the Rule 5 Draft earlier this offseason. He struck out a pair of big leaguers in Ketel Marte and Alek Thomas, generating four swinging strikes on nine pitches in his first appearance of the spring. He could make the Rangers’ season-opening bullpen and offers enough strikeout potential to potentially work his way into high-leverage spots down the road.

Baumler was the fifth pick in the Rule 5 draft, getting taken out of the Orioles system. The soon-to-be 24-year-old has pitched just 7 2/3 innings in Double-A and none in Triple-A, so he’ll be facing a big jump as he tries to win a spot in the Texas bullpen.

He’s getting dealt to Texas for right-hander Jaiker Garcia, according to MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf. Baumler, 23, was very effective in his time in the Baltimore organization this summer as seen in a 2.08 ERA and 46/19 K/BB ratio while working for High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Chesapeake. The former fifth-round pick will need to stay on the active roster all year in order to remain with the Rangers.

Baumler tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm at instructional camp, per MLB.com’s Joe Trezza, and will now be in rest and rehab mode for the next 12-18 months. The 18-year-old starting pitching prospect was selected in the fifth round of this year’s 2020 MLB Draft out of a high school in Des Moines, Iowa.