Wyatt Langford: The Rising Star of Texas
SURPRISE, Ariz. — “How comfortable would you be with the idea of Wyatt Langford Mania?” the Rangers’ No. 2 prospect was asked on his first day of Spring Training back in February.
“I don’t even know what that is,” he said. “Fine, I guess. … I mean, I don’t think I really have a choice.”
Whatever Langford Mania is, it has definitely begun in Texas. Langford, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, will be on the Opening Day roster, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy announced on Friday.
Entering Friday, MLB Pipeline’s No. 6 overall prospect has mashed .388 with six homers and 19 RBIs in 17 spring games. His 1.242 OPS is the best mark in the Cactus League.
“I wouldn’t even talk about the performance as much as just the way the man has carried himself,” Bochy said. “There’s a lot of attention on him, a lot of pressure, I’m sure. Because I know coming in he wanted to be with our club, so the way he just handled everything, he’s really carried himself like a Major Leaguer from day one.”
Last season across four levels, the 22-year-old batted .360/.480/.677 with 29 extra-base hits and 30 RBIs soon after being drafted.
Now, less than a year after playing for the Florida Gators in the College World Series, Langford joins the lineup of the reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers.
“I don’t know if there was any doubt in his mind — I’m sure there was — but he’s with us,” Bochy said. “He’s earned it. It’s well deserved when you look at the spring he’s had. I know we’ve talked about and we kind of joked about him not being here at times, but [he] definitely deserves to be here.”