Florida Baseball: Texas Rangers writer reacts to Wyatt Langford

While he didn’t go first overall as some projections had him, former Florida baseball great Wyatt Langford didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called at the MLB Draft, going fourth overall to the Texas Rangers.

So we here at Hail Florida Hail reached out to our sister site Nolan Writin, a website dedicated to the Rangers, to get their perspective from lead writer Michael Sanders on their latest draft pick.

Florida Baseball: Everything is bigger in Texas

HFH: Even though Texas is having a great season, the AL West is still highly competitive. Do you think Texas took Langford over Walker Jenkins because of the need to stay competitive now?

Michael: I think they took Langford because they thought he was the best player available. The Rangers competitive window is open now and I do think Langford’s advanced bat and college experience did play a part in the Rangers drafting him. They have a love for the SEC. Langford is the fourth consecutive SEC player they have taken in the first round. His ability to hit should help him advance quickly and allow him to contribute to the Rangers sooner than Jenkins would have. I have no doubt that played a part in the decision making process.

HFH: While college baseball is not on the level of college football in popularity, it is rapidly growing. How familiar are Rangers fans with Langford from his work at Florida?

Michael: I would say they are really familiar. Texas is now SEC country with Texas joining the SEC. I was tweeting with several Rangers fans during the draft and the excitement from the Langford pick was noticeable. I think everyone was expecting Max Clark until the Tigers drafted him. I did a poll and the Langford pick got a grade of a A from 96.8% of the fans and at this point, 562 votes have been cast.

Langford projects better as a corner outfielder than a center fielder. How does that fit within the Rangers system?

Michael: It would actually work out perfectly for Langford to be a corner outfielder. Leody Taveras this season has finally taken a step forward and is starting to fulfill his potential as an all-around center fielder. The Rangers still have him under team control for another few seasons. The Rangers’ top prospect Evan Carter is also a center fielder who will probably be moved to a corner spot as soon as next season. I think Langford can easily slide into right field as the Rangers transition all-star Adolis Garcia to DH in the coming seasons.

HFH: As with any prospect, Langford will head to the minors before getting the call to Arlington. How confident do Ranger fans feel about the developmental system Texas has in place?

Michael: The fans’ feeling about the Rangers player development system really depends on what the position of the player is. The Rangers have been dreadful since being in Arlington at developing pitching. Langford does not pitch and so I do not expect him to have any issues going through the minors. The Rangers have been pretty adept at identifying hitting and getting them from the draft and into the lineup. Josh Jung has went from college at Texas Tech, to first-round pick in 2019, to All-Star starter at third base in 2023. I would expect that Langford will be placed on a similar path to what Jung was. He will hopefully sign quickly, be sent to Arizona, and then be playing in minor-league games at some point in August. If he stays healthy and hits like he did at Florida that 2025 could see Langford making his major league debut.

HFH: What is the floor Langford needs to achieve in Texas for Rangers fans to not consider him a bust?

Michael: Fans are going to be fans and so some I am sure will be disappointed if he cannot replicate the insane numbers he put up at Florida. I think most fans will be happy if he can hit .250-.275, have 25-30 home runs, and play good defense in left or right field.  The team is expecting Langford to hit in the middle of the order, so a high average is not exactly necessary, but if he can hit for power then fans will accept the flaws that show up in his game.