When a batter gets to the big leagues, pitchers make adjustments. From there, it's up to the batter to counter. This process, which some describe as the cat-and-mouse game, never ends. Some of the best players, both batters and pitchers, can adjust to their opponent within an individual plate appearance.
Carpenter, a 19th-round pick in the 2019 draft, has been making those adjustments with the Detroit Tigers in the big leagues for the past 370 days, beginning with his MLB debut on Aug. 10, 2022.
"It's a dream come true," Carpenter said. "Everybody coming up always said that it's hard to make the big leagues, but it's harder to stay.