Chris Carter (infielder) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chris Carter
Carter batting for the New York Yankees in 2017
Piratas de Campeche – No. 23
First baseman / Designated hitter
Born: (1986-12-18) December 18, 1986 (age 38) Redwood City, California, U.S.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
August 9, 2010, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics (through 2017 season)
Batting average	.217
Home runs	158
Runs batted in	400
Teams
Oakland Athletics (2010–2012) Houston Astros (2013–2015) Milwaukee Brewers (2016) New York Yankees (2017)
Career highlights and awards
NL home run leader (2016)

Vernon Christopher Carter (born December 18, 1986) is an American professional baseball player. He plays as a first baseman and designated hitter for the Piratas de Campeche in the Mexican League. Chris Carter has also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for teams like the Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, and New York Yankees. In 2016, while playing for the Brewers, he hit 41 home runs. This made him the leader in home runs for the National League that year.

Chris Carter's Early Life

Chris Carter was born in Redwood City, California. When he was about seven or eight years old, his family moved to Las Vegas. He went to Sierra Vista High School. In 2005, his high school baseball team won the state championship.

Chris Carter's Professional Baseball Journey

Starting with the Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox picked Chris Carter in the 15th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft. He began his professional career in 2005 with the Bristol White Sox. There, he hit 10 home runs and had 37 runs batted in (RBI). An RBI means he helped a teammate score a run.

He continued playing in the minor leagues for the White Sox. In 2007, he hit 25 home runs and had 93 RBI. In December 2007, the White Sox traded Carter to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Playing for the Oakland Athletics (2010–2012)

Carter with the Athletics in 2012

Soon after, in December 2007, the Diamondbacks traded Carter to the Oakland Athletics. He played very well in the minor leagues for the Athletics. In 2008, he hit 39 home runs and had 104 RBI. He was even named the California League Rookie of the Year.

In 2009, he continued to shine, hitting 28 home runs and 115 RBI. Baseball America magazine ranked him as one of the top young players in the Athletics' team. He was also named the Oakland Athletics' Minor League Player of the Year in both 2008 and 2009.

Chris Carter made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on August 9, 2010, with the Oakland Athletics. He hit his first major league home run on September 22, 2010. He played in 24 games that year. He also played in the Venezuelan Winter League to keep practicing. He continued to split his time between the major and minor leagues in 2011 and 2012.

Time with the Houston Astros (2013–2015)

After the 2012 season, the Athletics traded Carter to the Houston Astros.

Carter with the Astros in 2013

In 2013, Carter played in 148 games for the Astros. He hit 29 home runs and had 82 RBI. However, he also struck out a lot, leading MLB with 212 strikeouts. A strikeout happens when a batter misses three pitches.

Carter with the Astros in 2014

In 2014, Carter improved his hitting. He finished the season with 37 home runs and 88 RBI, which were his best numbers yet.

In 2015, Carter continued to hit home runs for the Astros. He hit a game-tying three-run home run in a key game against the Seattle Mariners. This helped the Astros win and get closer to the playoffs. He played most of the 2015 season as the team's first baseman. He hit 24 home runs and had 64 RBI. After the 2015 season, Carter became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.

Leading the League with the Milwaukee Brewers (2016)

Carter batting for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016

On January 6, 2016, Chris Carter signed a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. This was a great year for him! He hit 41 home runs, which was the most in the entire National League. He also played in 160 games, showing how important he was to the team. However, he also led the league in strikeouts with 206. After this season, the Brewers did not offer him a new contract.

Short Stint with the New York Yankees (2017)

On February 16, 2017, the New York Yankees signed Chris Carter. He played for the Yankees for a few months. He hit eight home runs before the Yankees decided to make a change. He was later released by the team in July 2017.

Later Career in Minor Leagues and Mexico

After his time with the Yankees, Carter signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics again in July 2017. He played well for their Triple-A team, hitting 9 home runs in 36 games.

In 2018, he signed minor league deals with the Los Angeles Angels and then the Minnesota Twins.

Success in the Mexican League

In 2019, Chris Carter signed with the Acereros de Monclova in the Mexican League. He had an amazing year, leading the league with 49 home runs and 119 RBI. His team, the Acereros de Monclova, won their first-ever league championship, the Serie del Rey.

He did not play in 2020 because the Mexican League season was canceled. He continued to play for Monclova in 2021 and 2022.

In May 2023, Carter was loaned to the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League. He had another fantastic season there, hitting 21 home runs and 59 RBI in just 54 games. He was even named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2023 Serie del Rey, which Puebla also won!

He returned to the Acereros de Monclova in January 2024. In June 2024, he was traded back to the Pericos de Puebla. As of early 2025, he was traded to the Piratas de Campeche.

Chris Carter's Personal Life

Chris Carter's father, Vernon, played basketball in high school. Chris Carter is also a big fan of cars. He owns a special car called a Shelby Super Snake.

See also