First impressions: Tre Carter
I had a plan when I started writing first impressions posts and these Dust Devils have just plain gone and spoiled it. Especially you, Tre Carter!
Don’t worry, though, Tre. This picture makes up for it:
I originally intended to write posts about each of the position player additions to the Dust Devils from 2018’s draft class, then 2017, then international players. When I finished there, I’d go back through and hit a smattering of pitchers, and then begin to fill in other players, including those from previous drafts.
But no. First middle-of-the-lineup computer scientist/batsman Michael Curry jumped into the fray with his high quality performance on opening night. And on top of that, every game there was this one guy who didn’t fit into my plan that seemed to be insisting on more attention. And he kept at it tonight, too.
Today, Tre Carter hit his third home run of the season. Already! In just four games he’s already matched his entire season total from 68 games last season.
Before we jump into thinking we’ve got a younger, cooler Mike Trout on our hands, there’s reason to take those numbers with a smidgen of salt. Prior to joining the Dust Devils this year, the 2016 draft pick was scuffling a bit — batting .192 (with no home runs) in 31 games for the Fort Wayne Tin Caps, the Padres’ full-season Single-A club. A look through past articles, it sounds like Tre had a hot start in 2017, too, before slumping.
Maybe taking the pressure off has helped him figure some things out. Maybe the opposing pitching hasn’t been great. Maybe it’s the comfort of having a terrible logo on his hat. Maybe it’s Maybelline.
Regardless, this is a talented young man.
For now we can just be thankful we’re getting to enjoy a hearty glimpse of some of the potential he showed in his first season in rookie ball and what was described about his talent by Baseball Draft Report in 2016:
[Tre has] some of the most impressive athletic bona fides in this class and all kinds of speed on the bases and in center. Carter’s athletic profile and physical projection make him one of the draft’s most intriguing and overlooked outfield prospects. His pro debut — .298/.411/.383 with 9 BB/10 K in 56 PA — came in a small sample, but was chock full of encouraging signs. The intersection of Carter’s physical gifts and small sample on-field polish suddenly makes him one of the most interesting round eleven prospects to follow.
Tre was quite the athlete indeed in high school, where he played baseball, basketball, and football. He’s definitely fast — he stole 16 bases for the Dust Devils last season in 18 attempts, and had two triples in one game which just makes me feel winded sitting here in this comfortable chair.
Looking at his profile, something curious stands out: Tre throws right-handed but bats left-handed. When asked about it in this article, he indicated he has no recollection of how he came to be standing on the left-handed side of the plate:
How did you get to be a left-handed hitter?
“They just kind of set me up when I was little on that side, but I can’t really remember.”
This remains one of the universe’s great mysteries.
