With 2023 coming to a close, Sports Spectrum is highlighting our most-viewed stories of the year.
A big reason the Texas Rangers made their first playoff appearance since 2016 was a 21-year-old late addition to the roster. Evan Carter spent most of 2023 at Double-A, then made a brief stop in Triple-A before getting called up for his big-league debut Sept. 8. He singled in his very first MLB at-bat, and later walked and stole a base.
Prior to that impressive debut, he made a statement regarding his faith. Carter took batting practice while wearing a shirt with the words “JESUS WON,” and kept it on during a pregame media session, which Carter began by praising God.
“I’m grateful,” he said. “I thank God for this opportunity.”
Our story on Carter was published Oct. 3, right before the Rangers (90-72) swept the top two AL teams — the Tampa Bay Rays (99-63) and Baltimore Orioles (101-61) — in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Rangers continued on to defeat the Houston Astros in seven games in the ALCS, and then took down the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games in the World Series.
Carter hit .306 with five home runs, 12 RBIs and 12 walks in 23 regular-season games with the Rangers. Then, in 17 postseason games, he hit .300 with one home run, six RBIs, 10 walks and nine doubles, the latter of which set a MLB playoff record.
All the postseason production and popularity led to more viewers finding our original story on Carter, which ranks No. 5 among our most-viewed stories in 2023:
>> Rookie Evan Carter has been huge spark for Rangers as he declares ‘Jesus won’ <<
Check back tomorrow for No. 4!
RELATED STORIES:
— Rangers rookie Evan Carter donates proceeds from ‘Jesus Won’ shirts to good causes
— Rangers win 1st World Series, aided by young Christ-followers Evan Carter, Josh Jung
— In 1st World Series, Rangers 3B coach Tony Beasley leans on God in life’s ups, downs
— Rangers’ Josh Jung wins AL Rookie of the Month while being ‘competitor for Christ’
