The Rangers led the American League in runs per game last season, with Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Adolis Garcia leading the charge for an offense that powered a championship run. Now, Texas' lineup is about to get even scarier.
Two major prospects are set to become everyday pieces for the Rangers in 2024, as Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford are both on the organization's Opening Day roster.
Carter is already a household name to anyone who watched the Rangers' World Series run, which he jumpstarted with an excellent postseason debut. It's easy to forget he only played 23 regular season games.
Joining Carter as a potential boost to this year's Texas lineup is Langford, who was still playing at the University of Florida a year ago but has skyrocketed to the majors since he was drafted less than nine months ago.
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Here's what you need to know about Langford and why the Rangers have such high expectations for the slugger.
Who is Wyatt Langford?
Langford was the Rangers' first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, coming off the board fourth overall behind Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews and Max Clark.
Already considered to have an advanced bat when he was drafted, Langford has progressed quicker than even the Rangers expected. He rocketed through four different minor league levels in 2023 despite not debuting until late in the season, rising from rookie ball to triple-A while posting an OPS north of 1.000 at each stop.
That momentum carried over into Langford's first MLB spring training, where he hit .375 with a 1.161 OPS across 19 games to earn his way onto the major-league roster.
The Rangers' terrific depth still left some question about whether Langford would have a spot on the Opening Day roster, but an injury to Nathaniel Lowe opened the door for Langford to grab a spot. If Langford carries his production over into the regular season, there's no doubt the Rangers will find a way to get him at-bats even when Lowe is ready to return.
How old is Wyatt Langford?
Langford will spend the entire 2024 MLB season at 22 years old, as he's not set to turn 23 until mid-November.
The Rangers have already shown that they won't let youth stand in the way of a prospect making a major-league impact. Carter had just turned 21 when he was called up last September, and he's more than nine months younger than Langford. Seager, Semien and Garcia are critical pieces of Texas' lineup, but Langford, Carter and Josh Jung are reasons for Rangers fans to believe this kind of winning is sustainable.
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Where did Wyatt Langford go to college?
Langford spent his college career at the University of Florida, taking the Gators as far as the College World Series Final in 2023.
Langford had only four plate appearances as a freshman, but he was excellent in both 2022 and 2023, batting .356 with 26 home runs and a 1.166 OPS as a sophomore and .372 with 21 home runs and a 1.282 OPS as a junior.
Between college, the minor leagues and now spring training, all Langford has done in his career is hit. The Rangers are wisely betting on that success continuing at the highest level, where championship aspirations remain after last season's incredible run to a title.
Wyatt Langford spring training stats
(All stats through Monday, March 25)
| Games | AVG | HR | RBI | OPS |
| 19 | .375 | 6 | 20 | 1.161 |
Langford's spring training sample size might be small, but it's just the latest proof that his bat translates across different levels.
The 22-year-old hit .375 with six home runs and a 1.161 OPS through his first 19 spring training games, earning his way onto the Rangers' Opening Day roster despite a glut of talent already in place.
Hitting major-league pitching consistently isn't so easy, but Langford's early success will give him a chance to prove he's a piece worth building around in Texas.
