Texas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter had surgery on his right hip last week. He is not expected to be ready for the start of next season.

Chris Young, the team's president of baseball operations, shared the news Monday. Doctors fixed a labral issue and hip impingement during the arthroscopic procedure.

The recovery is expected to take about six months. Even so, the Rangers expect Carter to play most of next season.

Playing through it

Young said the hip likely bothered Carter all year. Carter still played 141 games and made all 112 of his defensive starts in center field.

He hit .194 with nine home runs, 40 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.

The team first thought his discomfort was muscular when he had his exit physical. The soreness continued into the offseason, so Carter had more tests and saw two specialists. Both recommended surgery.

"I do believe in light of what we've learned in this diagnosis for Evan, that it probably impacted him to some degree over the course of the season," Young said. "It is impressive, his ability to play through this."

A rough run of injuries

Carter burst onto the scene in 2023 as part of the Rangers' only World Series title team. He hit .306 in 23 regular-season games after being called up and reached base in all 17 of the team's playoff games.

Injuries have slowed him since. He played in only 108 of a possible 324 games over the next two seasons, with a lower back injury, a quad strain, back spasms and a broken wrist.

"He still is a young player with a bright career ahead of him. Our doctors anticipate that he will make a full recovery," Young said. "But it's going to be an offseason of rehabbing versus an offseason of training for next season."

Who plays center

Gold Glove utility winner Ezequiel Duran started 14 games in center field last season. Wyatt Langford made 13 starts there.

Young was not ready to say how Texas will fill the spot. He said that could depend on moves the team makes this offseason.

A possible lockout adds to the uncertainty. Baseball's labor deal expires Dec. 1. The 2027 season is scheduled to start March 24.