Rangers' Carter Baumler Told He Made Roster for 2026 MLB Season During Mound Visit in Trending Video

As MLB teams are making their final roster decisions with the regular season starting this week, the Texas Rangers used Monday's spring training game against the Kansas City Royals as an opportunity to let Carter Baumler know he made the 26-man roster.

After recording the first two outs in the top of fifth, Baumler was visited on the mound by Rangers manager Skip Schumaker and the entire infield group to let him know he would be with the club on opening day.

During an in-game interview with Laura Stickells of Rangers Sports Network, Baumler confirmed he was informed about making the team after initially thinking he was just being taken out when he saw Schumaker emerge from the dugout.

Schumaker said after the game that he was inspired to think of a memorable way to let Baumler know he made the club based on his own experience as a player.

"You want to make it as memorable as you can," Schumaker said. "I'll never forget when I got called up—the exact moment, the exact game, in Memphis, Tennessee. ... It was just like the most amazing time. I was just trying to think of a special way to tell him."

Baumler, who turned 24 on Jan. 31, has spent the past four seasons in the minors. He was originally a fifth-round draft pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2020, missed all of 2021 and pitched just four games in 2022 due to Tommy John surgery.

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Baumler in the Rule 5 draft in December, then traded him to the Rangers for Jaiker Garcia and cash considerations.

Baumler has had a terrific spring training for Texas. The right-hander allowed just one unearned run on four hits with 10 strikeouts in 9.1 innings over eight appearances.

The Rangers will open the 2026 regular season on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.