ARLINGTON — Now, this may be a first: Somebody actually delivered a meaningful message during an exhibition game mound visit.
On Monday, Rangers manager Skip Schumaker strolled to the mound in the fifth inning to tell his pitcher Carter Baumler something.
What, exactly? Baumler had retired the first two hitters on ground balls, needing just seven pitches to do so. His 95-96 mph velocity seemed just fine. It was then, however, that Schumaker delivered the news to Baumler: Kid, you’ve made the team.
What a moment for the rook! 👀👏
Watch as Rangers Rule 5 draft pick Carter Baumler is informed by manager Skip Schumaker that he’s made the roster — while Baumler is still on the mound.
(Via @MLB | #AllForTX)pic.twitter.com/6SHxx8O89z
— SportsDay Rangers (@dmn_rangers) March 24, 2026
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“There is only one time you get told you are on a major league roster for the first time and you want to make it as memorable as you can for that guy,” Schumaker said. “I was thinking of a way to make it as special a moment as I could. Wanted him to enjoy it with his teammates on the mound. I wanted him to take in the moment on the mound. And then he punched the next guy out and that was pretty cool.”
Schumaker even confused the umpires since the manager, who usually makes pitching changes, was coming out after two batters. Pitchers have a three-batter minimum. It certainly confused Baumler.
Texas Rangers pitcher Carter Baumler (right) reacts as manager Skip Schumaker makes a mound visit to inform him he had made the opening day roster during the fifth inning of an exhibition baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Globe Life Field on Monday, March 23, 2026, in Arlington. Rangers catcher Danny Jansen is at left.
Smiley N. Pool / The Dallas Morning News
“Somebody said ‘I wish I got a picture of you when the manager came out’,” Baumler said. “It caught me off guard. Then he came out and said ‘congrats you made the team.’ And it was a really cool moment. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
Baumler’s family was in Des Moines, Iowa, at home watching on TV.
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It was a nice way to acknowledge the accomplishment of Baumler, a Rule 5 pick from the Baltimore Orioles who had pitched only seven innings above Class A when the Rangers acquired him in December. They traded up in the draft with Pittsburgh to acquire him.
Then Baumler, 24, did everything possible to justify the decision. After finishing the fifth, he’d pitched 9 ⅓ “A” game innings during the spring without an earned run allowed. He struck out 10 and walked two.
As a Rule 5 pick, Baumler must remain in the majors all season with the Rangers or be offered back to Baltimore before he can be sent to the minors. It is a challenge to carry an unproven reliever all year, though Boston selected Justin Slaten from the Rangers and carried him all year. He’s turned into a valuable piece in the bullpen.
It is even more challenging for the Rangers since they don’t have a clearly optionable reliever in the bullpen at the moment. Jacob Latz could be optioned, but the Rangers talk of him as an invaluable weapon in the bullpen. Robert Garcia also has options, but he is expected to split closing duties with Chris Martin out of the gate.
The decision to go with Baumler means Luis Curvelo and Josh Sborz will both begin the season in the minors. Curvelo finished the spring strong and was the odds-on favorite among “optionable” pitchers. Sborz, who is on a minor league contract, can’t opt out of his deal before April 15. He likely becomes the first option if the Rangers need an arm in the first two weeks of the season. Barring an injury, the only way to call up a player until April 9 is to select the contract of a player from the minors who is not currently on the 40-man roster. Sborz fits that role.
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Good to be home: Photos as Rangers return from spring training for exhibition at Globe Life Field
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