The Rangers will place outfielder Wyatt Langford on the 10-day injured listing, supervisor Bruce Bochy advised Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning Information (X hyperlink) and different media. Langford left yesterday’s recreation on account of what was described as hamstring tightness, and Bochy stories that the damage is a pressure, barely past a Grade 1-level damage. The anticipated restoration timeline for Langford is three or 4 weeks.
It has nonetheless been lower than a 12 months since Langford was chosen fourth total by the Rangers within the 2023 draft, and the star prospect’s rapidly moved up the minor league ladder all the best way to Triple-A earlier than the top of his first professional season. Langford posted a 1.157 OPS over 200 plate appearances throughout 4 totally different minor league ranges final 12 months, and one other large efficiency in Spring Coaching led Texas to make the aggressive resolution to incorporate Langford on the Opening Day roster.
Regardless of all of the fanfare, it maybe isn’t stunning that Langford has to this point been overmatched by massive league pitching. The 22-year-old has hit solely .224/.295/.293 in his first 129 plate appearances within the Present, and he ranks barely under common in most Statcast classes (although his chase and whiff charges are sturdy, and his elite pace has lived as much as expectations). Whereas Langford’s barrels and barrel fee are round common, that hasn’t translated into a lot pop, as he has only one house run and an .069 Remoted Energy rating.
This isn’t precisely supreme for a delegated hitter, which has been Langford’s common function when he isn’t spelling Evan Carter in left area when a southpaw in on the mound. Utilityman Ezequiel Duran appears likeliest to slip into this function in Langford’s absence, or Duran may play third base and Josh Smith may get a while in left area. Relying on how the Rangers strategy the scenario, Jonathan Ornelas might be referred to as up from Triple-A for additional depth, or Texas may transcend the 40-man roster to pick somebody with extra MLB expertise (Matt Duffy, Derek Hill, Jose Barrero, and many others.) from Triple-A.