SURPRISE, Arizona — In the course of the first week of spring coaching, Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux returned to the staff’s clubhouse after watching a dwell batting follow session and declared: “I simply noticed one of the best participant on the sector.” The room of coaches and various personnel perked up. The Rangers got here into camp off a World Sequence title however with questionable beginning pitching depth, and so they have been hopeful Maddux, a coach for 20 seasons, had unearthed his newest gem on the mound.
“Wyatt Langford,” Maddux stated.
Langford will not be a pitcher. He’s a 6-foot-1, 225-pound power-hitting outfielder, and for a pitching coach — significantly one among Maddux’s stature — to gravitate so shortly to Langford offered the most recent proof that the defending champions’ offense may very well be even higher this yr.
Maddux’s reply shocked nobody internally. After sliding to Texas on the No. 4 decide in a loaded 2023 draft, Langford, now 22, spent two months destroying 4 minor league ranges, hitting .360/.480/.677 with 10 residence runs in 200 plate appearances. He arrived this spring “in actual competitors to make the membership,” in accordance with Texas common supervisor Chris Younger, and solely the Rangers’ outfield excellence stands between Langford and an every-day huge league function.
“I do know if I do what I can do,” Langford stated, “they’re going to give me the chance to showcase that.”
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Langford’s right-handed swing has impressed the Rangers so completely that he was below substantial consideration to make his main league debut through the playoffs final yr. Towards the tip of the common season, with proper fielder Adolis Garcia injured, the Rangers mentioned selling Langford to fill out an already-dangerous lineup. They weren’t afraid of his age or inexperience. As ably as rookie Evan Carter was already garnering headlines along with his spectacular play, including Langford to Carter and middle fielder Leody Taveras would’ve offered a wanted offensive increase.
Garcia returned, in fact, happening a legendary sizzling streak that netted him American League Championship Sequence MVP honors. However Langford remained across the staff through the postseason, becoming a member of the Rangers’ so-called “stay-ready squad” in case of accidents. Shortly, he distinguished himself.
The group would collect at Globe Life Discipline within the morning and take dwell at-bats. Amongst these on the mound have been Jack Leiter, Owen White and Cole Winn, one of the best pitching prospects within the Rangers’ group. Danny Duffy, a World Sequence champion for the 2015 Kansas Metropolis Royals with Younger as his teammate, was there and already had a deep respect for Langford after enjoying with him in Double-A throughout Duffy’s try at a return to the massive leagues.
“I bought him out as soon as, and it was the primary pitch I ever threw him,” Duffy stated. “It was a changeup. I did not need to problem him proper there. Ball was flying. I hadn’t given up a homer all yr, and he wasn’t about to be my first, however he simply missed one. Hit it like 400 toes within the air to the center of middle area. If he would’ve clipped it, it might’ve gone to the Embassy Suites.”
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Future Corridor of Famer Max Scherzer, then attempting to return from an damage, did not know who Langford was earlier than he confronted him throughout a dwell batting follow in October. Scherzer discovered shortly when Langford hammered a double off the wall. Because the month went on and the Rangers cruised to the AL pennant, Langford continued to flabbergast onlookers, persistently barreling balls at 110 mph-plus, territory sometimes reserved for elite main league hitters. Whereas the stay-ready crew was despatched residence after Sport 1 of the World Sequence, Garcia’s indirect damage suffered in Sport 3 reignited the chatter amongst Rangers personnel to summon Langford.
“He was proper there within the dialog,” Texas bench coach Donnie Ecker stated. “And if he did play, he was going proper within the 3-hole.”
“I do not know if he would’ve hit third, to be sincere,” Rangers supervisor Bruce Bochy stated, “however watching him within the dwell BPs was spectacular. The numbers, what he was doing, was unbelievable. You may’t ignore that. And then you definitely get to know the person and he is bought no worry. And also you noticed what Carter did. And so, we had that to go on too that, hey, these guys are totally different, these younger children. And so, we did not assume he’d be afraid. That is why it was legit, why he was with us.
“Wanting again, I imply, it really would’ve been fairly cool to see.”
Finally, Texas selected to present veteran Travis Jankowski the left-field slot and elevate utility man Ezequiel Duran to the lively roster. Each had been there all yr. They have been succesful, game-tested. With a 2-1 lead within the Sequence and home-field benefit, the Rangers did not really feel the necessity to push the envelope. The prospect of Langford within the lineup, although, remained of their ideas. In the course of the celebration after the Rangers’ championship-clinching Sport 5, one coach, already wanting ahead to 2024, stated: “And we’ll have Langford subsequent yr, too.”
“It wasn’t simply the efficiency or the leads to the minor leagues,” Younger stated. “It was the method metrics, which we worth, that prompt he might come up and have success. His exit velos have been extraordinarily excessive. His chase charge was extraordinarily low. He was strolling. He was displaying elite self-discipline. It is every part we noticed after we drafted him — and he’d additionally carried out on the largest stage in school baseball.
“If you take that under consideration, the second wasn’t going to be too huge for him.”
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Langford had laid waste to varsity baseball over the earlier two years, going from a backup catcher who bought 4 at-bats as a freshman at Florida to arguably the most efficient hitter within the nation. As a sophomore, Langford hit an SEC-leading 26 residence runs with a 1.166 OPS. His follow-up was even higher: Whereas his residence run complete dropped to 21, Langford hit 19 extra doubles as a junior and walked 20 extra occasions whereas sustaining his strikeout charge. His season ended only one win in need of a School World Sequence title.
As a lot as he would’ve loved being the primary place participant to take part within the School World Sequence and the World Sequence in the identical season, Langford noticed 2023 as a grand success — one he spent the offseason attempting to duplicate as he educated with hopes of convincing the Rangers he can be prepared this spring. As a result of Langford understands that dominating in school and the minors ensures nothing on the main league stage, he has used the early goings of spring coaching to select the brains of veterans Marcus Semien, Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Jung — Langford’s spring roommate — to higher perceive the basics of enjoying his first 162-game season.
“The most important aim is simply to be taught as a lot as I can, ensure that to simply be myself and go on the market and play and have enjoyable,” Langford stated. “If it occurs, then superior. If not, then I am going to go to wherever they ship me to and do one of the best I can.
“I do know if I do what I can do, they’re going to give me the chance to showcase that.”
When he will get that probability may rely on the Rangers’ wants. With Jung and shortstop Corey Seager sidelined, they might use their twenty sixth roster spot for a utility man to open the season. What’s clear is that the Rangers will not preserve Langford down simply to maintain him down — not with MLB’s guidelines that award a full yr of service time to prime rookies and incentivize groups to advertise them by giving draft picks.
Particularly if Rangers coaches proceed to see him as one of the best participant on the sector.
“He’ll inform us when he is prepared,” Younger stated, “and if that is now, it is now.”
