Rangers pitcher Carter Baumler finds out he made the team during surprise mound visit during game

Carter Baumler thought he was coming out of the game.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Carter Baumler thought he was coming out of the game. Instead, he'll be sticking around a while.

The mound visit Baumler received Monday night from Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker wasn't to remove the rookie right-hander from his last spring training outing, but rather to let him know he made the opening day roster.

Schumaker emerged from the dugout after Baumler retired the first two Kansas City Royals batters in the fifth inning. Texas catcher Danny Jansen and all four infielders were also on the mound when the new Rangers skipper told the 24-year-old reliever he will start the season in the Texas bullpen.

"I wasn't expecting it. I was like, 'why is he coming out here?' And he got on the mound and told me I made the team," Baumler said during an in-game TV interview on the Rangers Sports Network. "I mean, honestly, I thought I was like getting taken out of the game. ... Obviously, whenever the manager comes out, you're usually done."

Jansen patted his catcher's mitt on Baumler's chest and the infielders offered their congratulations. Baumler, looking to make his major league debut after never pitching above Double-A, had a big smile on his face but composed himself enough to strike out Isaac Collins swinging on a 96.8 mph fastball to end the inning.