Texas Rangers first round draft pick Wyatt Langford throws out the first pitch before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field on July 18, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
The fourth overall pick in the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft, outfielder Wyatt Langford, was promoted to Double-A Frisco on Sunday
Langford has been hitting over .300 consistently after signing a contract with an $8 million bonus with the Texas Rangers on July 18.
Langford, 21, born in Gainesville, Fla., has played between the complex level and High-A Hickory in his first professional season. He has played in 27 games between both levels hitting .340 with 120 plate appearances recording 34 hits, 11 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 19 RBI, eight stolen bases, and 18 walks along with a 1.120 OPS.
Langford was a late bloomer during his collegiate career at the University of Florida after getting only four at-bats his freshman year of 2021. A righty that broke out in his sophomore season in 2022, Langford hit 26 home runs with an OPS of 1.166. He was a First Team All-American and Second Team All-SEC in 2022. This season, Langford hit 21 home runs and had an OPS of 1.282. He also drove in 57 runs, hit for a .373 batting average and had an on-base percentage of .498.
Langford’s power was on full display during the College World Series. He hit two of the longest home runs in the history of Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. The stadium opened in 2011, and Langford hit a 456-foot home run against Virginia pitcher Jake Berry in a 6-5 win on June 16. Langford followed that up with a 449-foot home run against LSU pitcher Blake Money in a 22-4 win on June 25. Langford also set a career-high with five hits in that game.
Langford was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, and he was First Team All-SEC in 2023.
During his three seasons at the University of Florida, Langford hit .363 in 134 games with 610 plate appearances recording 180 hits, 37 doubles, six triples, 47 home runs, 120 RBI, 16 stolen bases, and 92 walks including a 1.217 OPS.
The Frisco RoughRiders are 29-28 and are five games back of the first place Amarillo Sod Poodles (34-23) in the second half of the season in the Texas League South Division. The RoughRiders are also tied with the Corpus Christi Hooks for third place during the second half of the season.
The Frisco RoughRiders will play the third place Northwest Arkansas Naturals (27-29) in the first game of their six-game home series on Monday at 7 p.m. EDT streaming on MiLB.com paid service website.