Future Stars? Texas Rangers Prospects Jack Leiter, Wyatt Langford Finishing Strong in Minors
A pair of minor leaguers the Texas Rangers would love to see have big roles with the big club someday are finishing the season strong and offering hope for the future.
Double-A prospects Jack Leiter and Wyatt Langford both had big showing for the Frisco RoughRiders on Saturday night.
Leiter, the fifth-ranked prospect in the Texas system, struck out nine over five innings in a 4-3 win over Amarillo. No. 2 prospect Langford went 3-for-4 with a home run in his seventh consecutive multi-hit game and eighth overall since joining Frisco.
The pair have taken different roads to get to where they’re at this season. Langford has rocketed through the minors since being drafted fourth overall in July. Leiter, the second pick in 2021, has taken two turns on the Development List this season to get rest and work on his mechanics.
Jack Leiter finished the season with four promising outings at Double-A Frisco.
In four starts since returning to Frisco, Leiter has a 3.31 ERA, 25 strikeouts and held every opponent to three or fewer hits.
“It’s just about being under control, staying in control of myself and of the game,” Leiter said, according to MLB.com. “Not speeding up and trying to do more, because in a lot of ways, less is more.”
Leiter isn’t scheduled to make any more starts this season with the Double-A season ending Sunday for Frisco on Sunday and no discussion of moving up to Triple-A Round Rock.
“It’s good to finish strong, but I feel really good, so I’d like to keep going,” Leiter said.
Langford didn’t take long to take to pro ball. In 24 games with High-A Hickory, MLB’s No. 13 prospect slashed .333/.453/.654 before being promoted to Frisco. In just 11 games for the Riders, the outfielder has drilled three homers and is slashing .447/.551/.842.
“I’ve been feeling pretty good at the plate,” Langford said, according to MLB.com. “It’s been a really good transition through all the levels. You get to meet a bunch of different guys that have gone through a bunch of stuff here in the organization and lean on some of their experience.”
Much like Leiter, Langford is not trying to do too much.
“I’m just trying to go out there and hit the ball hard through the middle,” he said. “I try to keep it as simple as I can. I feel like that’s what works the best.”
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