The post Rangers’ Rule 5 pick is proving to be an offseason steal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
RHP Carter Baumler has a big decision to make in the summer of 2020. Would he rather go pro or play college baseball at the prestigious Texas Christian University?
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As the 133rd overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, Baumler chose to chase his dream and become a professional player. However, he has had some bad injury luck since signing with the Baltimore Orioles.
Just a few months after being drafted, he tore his LCL and had to undergo Tommy John surgery. Upon his return, he experienced shoulder issues from 2022 to 2024, but played a full season in 2025.
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Rangers’ Rule 5 pick considered offseason steal
The Orioles decided they didn’t want to add him to the 40-man roster due to his injury history, and he was available to all clubs in the Rule 5 draft. He was then drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates who immediately traded him to the Texas Rangers.
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The Rangers are reassured about Baumler’s health because the team’s physician is none other than Dr. Keith Meister, who performed Tommy John surgery.
Power-throwing right-handers have been dominant so far this spring. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel tagged him as a potential breakout candidate for the club.
“Baumler was a Rule 5 prospect with a late-innings caliber player who was drafted by the Orioles because he pitched just 88.2 innings in four career seasons, only a handful of which were above A ball. He showed above-average production with his four-seam fastball, slider and curveball while also throwing enough strikes to be a true contributor to the major league club this year.”
Expect to see Baumler work to close the gap and get the game closer to the ninth inning. Texas had a great bullpen last year and will need it again if they want to end their two-year playoff drought.
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