Road to The Show™: Rangers’ Langford

MiLB.com's Road to the Show, Scouting Report edition, spotlights players who are just starting their professional careers, focusing on what the experts are projecting for these young phenoms. Here's a look at second-ranked Rangers prospect Wyatt Langford. For more player journeys on The Road to The Show, click here.

It’s difficult to have a better introduction to pro ball than Wyatt Langford did this summer.

After being selected by the Rangers with the No. 4 overall Draft pick in July, Langford traversed four levels of the Minor Leagues to finish the season with Triple-A Round Rock. From his first game in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League on July 28 to the end of the MiLB regular season, Langford tied for first in the Minors in extra-base hits (29) and total bases (109). He also finished second in doubles (17) and third among qualifiers in OPS (1.157), slugging percentage (.677) and on-base percentage (.480).

Despite his terrific start, the 22-year-old was not considered for a World Series roster spot when Adolis García went down with an oblique injury after Game 3 -- thus ending Langford’s season as the Rangers went on to claim their first World Series victory.

It was still a big year for MLB Pipeline’s No. 13 overall prospect. Langford was a unanimous First-Team All-American and a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist during his junior season at the University of Florida. He led the Gators to the NCAA Championship but ultimately lost to a Louisiana State club that featured the top two picks in this year’s Draft, Paul Skenes (Pirates) and Dylan Crews (Nationals).

Before he arrived at Florida in 2021, Langford was a three-sport star at Trenton High School, about 30 miles outside Gainesville. In addition to playing basketball and football, he was a six-year varsity starter on the baseball team. He had some national recognition coming into the pandemic-shortened 2020 Draft, but ultimately attended school when he was not selected.

Langford had just four at-bats over four games in his freshman season with the Gators. After playing summer ball with Charlottesville in the Valley League, he took over as the everyday left fielder role during his sophomore season.

Langford played 130 total games in his final two seasons at Florida. He set the record for the highest SLG (.746) in program history and finished with a career .363 average, .471 OBP and 1.217 OPS. He finished his college career with more walks (92) than strikeouts (89) and tallied 90 extra-base hits, including 47 homers, with 156 runs, 120 RBIs and 16 steals.

After the Draft, Langford became the eighth player ever to sign a Draft bonus of at least $8 million. He was introduced by the club at Globe Life Field before starting his professional career in the Arizona Complex League.

Langford had five hits in 13 at-bats, including a homer and three doubles, and was promoted to High-A Hickory after just three games. He continued to mash in the South Atlantic League, earning Player of the Week honors in August and finishing with a .333 average and 1.097 OPS over 24 games before earning another promotion.

The 6-foot-1 outfielder had 17 hits in 42 at-bats (.405) with four homers and 10 RBIs over 12 games for Double-A Frisco. He also drew 11 walks, struck out just seven times and was the Texas League Player of the Month for August. He was promoted again after the conclusion of the Double-A regular season and continued to swing a hot bat over five games with Round Rock. He collected seven hits in his first 19 at-bats (.368) but went hitless, drawing four walks, in the Express’ two playoff games against Oklahoma City.

Overall, Langford batted .360 with 36 walks and 34 strikeouts across all four levels. He made quite the impression in his first pro action. And he can conceivably join Texas’ title defense as soon as Opening Day.

“He's special. Every step of the way, he just kept putting up those numbers. He'll come into Spring Training. We're going to stay open-minded,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told MLB Network in December. “He'll have a chance to make the club. It's all performance-based. … If we think they're ready, then they'll be on the team."

Here's what the experts at MLB Pipeline have to say about Langford:

Scouting grades (20-80 scale)
HIT: 60
POWER: 65
RUN: 55
ARM: 50
FIELD: 50
OVERALL: 60

“Langford went undrafted as a Florida high school third baseman in 2020 and got just four at-bats as a Florida freshman before exploding into one of the most devastating college hitters the last two seasons. He led the Southeastern Conference with 26 homers in 2022 and took the Gators to the College World Series finals this year, batting .373/.498/.784 while topping NCAA Division I with 28 doubles and 52 extra-base hits. The best power prospect in the 2023 crop, he went fourth overall and signed for a Rangers-record $8 million.

Langford generates well above-average power to all fields with ease, employing a simple right-handed stroke that allows him to drive balls in the air to his pull side without selling out for power. He lets his considerable strength and bat speed do all the work, and his mature approach allows him to make consistent hard contact and leaves him with no obvious weaknesses at the plate. He manages the strike zone well and projects as a .280 hitter with 35 homers per season.

Though he's a solid to plus runner, Langford played mostly left field for the Gators in deference to faster players. Texas will see what he can do in center field but most scouts believe he'll eventually wind up back on a corner. He has average arm strength and did some catching in high school and summer ball, though there are no plans to try him behind the plate.”