Vernon Christopher Carter (born December 18, 1986) is an American professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter for the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League.

He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, and New York Yankees.

In 2016, while playing for the Brewers, Carter led the National League in home runs, along with Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, with 41.

[2] In 2005, Sierra Vista's baseball team won the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Class 4A state championship.

Carter began his professional career with the Bristol White Sox of the Rookie-level Appalachian League in 2005.

[5] He played for the Stockton Ports of the Class A-Advanced California League in the 2008 season where he hit 39 home runs and had 104 RBIs.

[6] In 2009, Carter split time between the Midland RockHounds of the Class AA Texas League and the Sacramento River Cats of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL), putting a .329 batting average (a 70-point increase from 2008), 28 homers and 115 RBIs combined.

[12] After the 2012 season, the Athletics traded Carter to the Houston Astros with Brad Peacock and Max Stassi for Jed Lowrie and Fernando Rodriguez.

[13] During the 2013 season, Carter played 148 games batting .223 with 29 home runs, 82 RBI, and struck out an MLB-leading 212 times.

[10] On January 14, 2015, Carter and the Astros agreed to a one-year contract worth $4.175 million, avoiding arbitration.

[16] On September 30, with the Seattle Mariners ahead 6–3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, he hit a game-tying three-run home run.

[19] He hit .294 with a home run against the Kansas City Royals during the American League Division Series (ALDS).

[26] He was called back up by the Yankees on June 29 when his replacement at first base, Tyler Austin, landed on the disabled list.

On July 21, 2017, Carter signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics organization and was assigned to the Nashville Sounds of the PCL.

[37][38] On January 9, 2024, Carter signed a contract to return to the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.

On September 19, 2024, Carter was traded back to the Acereros de Monclova in exchange for Odúbel Herrera.

[42] Carter's father, Vernon, played basketball for Rancho High School in North Las Vegas.