Rangers Retain Rule 5 Draftee Carter Baumler on Active Roster

Bassyonni

Published: March 24, 2026 3:39 PM ET

Rangers Retain Rule 5 Draftee Carter Baumler on Active Roster

The Texas Rangers have officially included Rule 5 draftee Carter Baumler on their active roster. This decision marks an important milestone in Baumler’s career. Moreover, it showcases the team’s confidence in his abilities despite his history of injuries.

Carter Baumler’s Journey to the Major Leagues

Manager Skip Schumaker made the announcement to Baumler during a mound visit. This unique moment occurred in the middle of a game and drew the attention of the entire Rangers infield, who congratulated the 24-year-old right-hander. Baumler expressed his surprise at receiving the news, stating that he initially thought he was being taken out of the game.

Reflecting on the moment, he said, “What a special way [to tell me]. It caught me totally off guard.” Baumler, a fifth-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2020 draft, signed for $1.5 million but faced challenges, including injuries that limited his pitching opportunities.

Challenges and Achievements

Baumler has undergone both Tommy John surgery and shoulder surgery.
Due to injuries, he pitched only 49 innings in his first five professional seasons.
His highest single-season workload came in 2025, where he pitched 39 2/3 innings in High-A and Double-A.

Last year, Baumler boasted an impressive 2.04 ERA along with a 29.1% strikeout rate. However, he also contended with an 11.4% walk rate. In spring training with the Rangers, he has continued to shine, throwing 9 1/3 shutout innings. His spring stats include:

Statistic	Value
Strikeout Rate	28.6%
Walk Rate	5.7%
Ground-Ball Rate	54.5%

Rule 5 Implications

To retain Baumler, the Rangers must keep him on the major league roster or injured list for the entire season. This includes a requirement of 90 days on the active roster. Meeting these conditions will grant Texas full control over Baumler for five years, plus three minor league option years afterward.

If the Rangers decide to move in another direction, Baumler would have to pass through waivers unclaimed. The team could then offer him back to the Orioles for a nominal fee of $50,000.

Looking Ahead

This decision comes after the Rangers traded a prospect to the Pittsburgh Pirates to select Baumler in the draft, indicating their investment in his potential. Baumler will be joining a restructured Texas bullpen, featuring both left-handed and right-handed pitchers, including: