Courtesy of Texas Rangers
Meet Texas Rangers Draft Pick, Future Star Wyatt Langford
Wyatt Langford never felt discouraged after going undrafted as a senior in high school in 2020. Instead, he viewed it as a chance to better his craft just 30 miles up the road of his hometown of Trenton, Fla., at the University of Florida.
Langford not only grew as a player, but also as a person. He learned the nuances of being a good teammate. He switched positions to better his chances of starting. And he learned how to time his hits properly, leading to drives into open alleyways for extra-base knocks and countless RBI.
By the time his college career ended, Langford was known as one the SEC's most dangerous hitters and throughout all of college baseball. That's what the Texas Rangers expect to see in Arlington whenever he makes his debut at Globe Life Park in the not-so-distant future.
“He fits the profile of the player we really like perfectly,” general manager Chris Young said following the first round of the MLB Draft. “The intangibles here are really important. He’s made himself into a great player.”
Langford was selected fourth overall, becoming the highest position player drafted by the Rangers since Jeff Kunkel in 1983. A five-tool player with exceptional defense, several scouts believed that the 6-1 outfielder would have been the consensus top pick in any other draft.
Of course, this year's draft came with plenty of twists and turns from the jump.
The Pittsburgh Pirates were torn between a pair of LSU players, but settled on the flame-throwing right-hander Paul Skenes after it was reported that Golden Spikes winner Dylan Crews was looking for a signing bonus worth nearly $10 million. The Washington Nationals wasted no time taking Crews, while the Detroit Tigers took a swing on youth by selecting prep outfielder Max Clark from Franklin, Ind.
Team fit matters as much as potential. Sometimes more for prospects to flourish. For Langford, it's a win-win all around as outfield was a position Texas was linked to through the pre-draft process. Add in the soon-to-be 22-year-old's experience, and Langford's professional debut could come within the next 14 months.
“He’s got a very good approach and power to all fields, and he’s a good defender," Rangers scouting director Kip Fagg said. "Very athletic, probably a plus runner, good defender in the corner. We think we got a both-sides-of-the-ball baseball player here that's going to hit in the middle of the lineup for the Texas Rangers.”
After registering four at-bats his freshman year, Langford began heating up as a sophomore, posting a .356/.447/.719 slash line while matching the school record with 26 home runs. A year later, the power progressed, leading to a .373/.498/.784 line with 21 long balls and 56 extra-base hits.
The Rangers aren't getting just a prospect with power, but also discipline. Last season, Langford recorded more walks (56) than strikeouts (44) and upped his walk rate from 11.8 percent to 18.9.
“Being able to show people that it can be done really means a lot to me,” Langford said. “I became a lot more disciplined. I had a much better plan.”
Baseball fans alike had a front-row seat to Langford's magic in Omaha last month as the No. 2 Gators made a run to the College World Series. Finishing with a .375 average, Langford totaled seven extra-base hits, three home runs and nine RBI, including a six-RBI outing in Game 2 of the College World Series final against LSU.
"Every time I step on that field, I try to give it my best effort and elevate my teammates to play the same way," Langford said.
An underlying trait of Langford's game is his willingness to adapt. When signed by the Gators, his primary positions were catcher and third base. A year later, Langford began patrolling left field, spending fall practice going through the struggles of learning a new position.
Patience and practice led to promising results. In two full seasons, Langford was only credited with one error and six assists. Some scouts believe his athletic frame could lead to a shift in center field, but that's still a ways away.
"We probably see him as more of a corner guy at the end of the day, but I don't think we're going to limit him to that either," Fagg said. "If we can go out there and we get our arms around, the guy can play some center field. The more, the merrier.”
Langford's pro path should be sped up due to his proven ability at the plate. He joins a loaded group of outfield talent, headlined by No. 1 prospect Evan Carter, Dustin Harris and Aaron Zavala. Langford also joins a mix of up-and-comers expected to be a part of the Rangers' long-term success, including pitchers Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, and All-Star third baseman Josh Jung.
Fagg compared Langford to the rookie third baseman, mentioning how both were "self-made players" who took advantage of playing college ball after going undrafted in high school. The two honed in on their power, thus making them staples for their programs by their final seasons.
Now, that success could be patrolling the right side of the field for years to come.
"He embodies all the values of the Texas Rangers," Young said. "We're thrilled to welcome him to our organization."
You can follow Cole Thompson on Twitter @MrColeThompson.
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