'The kid wants it': Rule 5 pick Baumler impressing in camp

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- In the 2020s, approximately 50 percent of all Rule 5 Draft picks have stuck with their new club.

The last Rangers Rule 5 pick to make the Opening Day roster was Dodgers right-handed pitcher Brett de Geus in 2021. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft and pitched in 19 games with Texas (8.44 ERA) before he was designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks.

The Rangers did not make a selection in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft during the Winter Meetings. But they did trade for right-hander Carter Baumler -- who was picked by the Pirates in the Rule 5 Draft.

Baumler posted a 2.04 ERA in 39 2/3 innings across three levels of the Minors in Baltimore’s system last season. He needs to make the Opening Day roster and stick all season long in order to remain with the Rangers organization.

“It's something that I've known has been a possibility, really, for over the last year,” Baumler said of being picked in the Rule 5 Draft. “I was trying to mentally prepare for it, as I was throwing in games last year, and then obviously, over this whole offseason. It's not like it's anything that has caught me off guard.

“The whole goal was just to force teams to make hard decisions. Obviously I was trying to be as good as I can, and, like I said, force a team to make the decision come fall and winter. Obviously, this is where I ended up. I couldn't be more excited to be a Ranger.”

• History of Rangers' Rule 5 Draft picks

A fifth-round pick by the Orioles in the abbreviated 2020 MLB Draft, Baumler has only pitched 88 2/3 innings over the last four Minor League seasons due to Tommy John surgery in 2020, a shoulder operation in 2022 and back issues at the start of 2025.

But he broke out in 2025, advancing to Double-A before the end of the season.

“We got him for a reason,” said manager Skip Schumaker. “We believe that he can get outs at the Major League level. I want him to throw as many strikes, fill up the zone as much as he can. We talked a couple days ago. He's excited to be here. Obviously he's got a real power curveball. He's got real power on his fastball, it's stuff that we don't really have in the mix of the potential bullpen construction. The kid wants it.”

In his second Cactus League outing on Feb. 24 against the Diamondbacks, Baumler struck out a pair of big leaguers in Ketel Marte and Alek Thomas. Considering he’s not pitched above Double-A yet, that’s an encouraging inning for his Opening Day roster hopes.

With the stuff he has, it’s easy to see why the Rangers felt confident enough to trade for a Rule 5 guy.

Schumaker has raved about his curveball, which sits in the low-80s as he lands it for strikes and gets whiffs on it. His fastball sits 95-97, and has explosive carry in addition to a mid-80s slider to mix in as well.

“There's examples where contending teams have [Rule 5] relief pitchers in their bullpen that have been very successful,” Schumaker said. “I can't think of a reason why he can't be that guy, if he fills up the strike zone, if he controls the running game. There's a lot of other things than just going on in Spring Training than blowing it by guys. You got to trust your eyes, trust your coaches, and then see how it looks throughout Spring Training. All he can do is control what he can control. Right now, he is, by throwing strikes, being a really good kid in the clubhouse. Everything he's doing right now, he's doing to the best of his ability. I think how he's handling himself is pretty impressive.”

Being a Rule 5 pick is a unique situation no matter the club. Baumler could easily have an inside track because of the club’s need for relief pitchers.

And the 24-year-old has impressed so far in camp. He’s doing everything he can to be here as long as possible.

“It's hard. I mean, he hasn't pitched in Triple-A so it's really challenging,” Schumaker said. “It's really hard for them because there's so much thrown at them. … At the end of the day, there are really good players, but he’s a really good pitcher. Just take your best shot.”