Texas Rangers Top Prospect Wyatt Langford Relieved, Happy With Spring Training Debut
As much talk as has surrounded Texas Rangers prospect Wyatt Langford, Friday was another milestone day for the 2023 first-round draft pick — his first Major League spring training at-bats.
Langford started in left field and went to the plate three times, going 0-for-2 with a walk in the Rangers’ 5-4 Cactus League opener over the Kansas City Royals.
The Rangers batted Langford third in the order behind second baseman Marcus Semien and right fielder Evan Carter.
Nerves for the rookie? Yeah, a few.
“I mean, yes, there were some nerves,” Langford said. “I was mostly just excited. I was excited to be back out there playing. That was probably the longest I've been in a long time going without baseball because the college offseasons are shorter.”
Langford flew out in his first at-bat in the first inning. His groundout ended the third inning, but not before the Rangers took a 3-1 lead. In the fifth, he drew his walk and advanced to third on a double by Derek Hill. But he was stranded after Andrew Knapp and Davis Wendzel struck out.
“It was really good,” Langford said. “I had three pretty good at-bats. I'm happy with what I accomplished.”
Langford’s offseason started after his incredible rise through the Rangers’ minor-league system wrapped up in September with Triple-A Round Rock.
After the Rangers drafted Langford No. 4 overall, he started his professional career in Surprise, Ariz., with the Rangers’ Complex League team. From there, he went to High-A Hickory, Double-A Frisco and Round Rock and slashed .360/.480/.677/1.157 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI.
He has now positioned himself to make the Rangers’ 26-man roster coming out of spring training, something Rangers manager Bruce Bochy has repeatedly said he has an “open mind” about.
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