'Do What I Do.' Texas Rangers Top Prospect Wyatt Langford Unfazed By Lofty Expectations
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Maybe he's too young to be nervous.
At barely 22, Wyatt Langford entered the Texas Rangers clubhouse Friday morning for his first MLB spring training.
The fourth overall pick in July's MLB draft arrived three days early with 200 career professional plate appearances to his name.
And he's not just being given a courtesy, first-round pick invitation to big league camp. He has a legitimate chance to make the Opening Day roster if he proves he's ready this spring.
None of that seems to faze him, which might be at the heart of why manager Bruce Bochy and general manager Chris Young have no qualms about discussing the prospect of Langford making the roster. Scrutiny didn't bother him while shooting through the Rangers system last summer.
"He's comfortable with that," Bochy said. "He's a very humble guy. He's got a great way about him, so I think he's going to come in with the right attitude, and that's to compete for a job. He's not here just to be here for his first camp. We're staying open-minded."
By open-minded, that means the Rangers would be willing to use Langford at designated hitter if a position isn't available. Langford's most familiar position is left field. Currently, that's likely to be Evan Carter's starting spot. However, if center fielder Leody Taveras struggles at the plate, or an injury sidelines Carter or right-fielder Adolis Garcia, that's where Langford would be a very serious option if he produces this spring.
"This guy could make our club and be an impact player," Bochy said.
Meanwhile, Langford stood grinning in front of his locker, seemingly unfazed by the enormity of his opportunity, answering questions about expectations of making the big league team.
"No, it's not too hard to wrap my head around," he said. "It's definitely new and different. But I mean, it's cool. It's really cool to be a part of and to have the opportunity to do something like that."
What does he have to do to make it happen? That's still an open question. Even if he plays well this spring, the club may want to start him in the minors for more polish and playing time. Langford doesn't sound overwhelmed by any of it.
"Just do what I do and go out there and play and have fun," Langford said. "All these guys around me have so much knowledge of the game. I really just want to learn more about baseball and how it works and just perform the best I can."
Would he be comfortable at DH? He only did it twice in three seasons at Florida.
"He can draw on that experience then," Bochy joked.
Again, Langford doesn't seem to be fretting anything, including a DH role.
"It's a little different, but at the same time, it's still baseball," he said. "You just got to keep your head in the game, pay attention to what's going on, and help out any way you can."
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