Hitting a homer or robbing a homer? The answer was pretty obvious for Wyatt Langford, who did both in Saturday's win over the A’s in West Sacramento. “Probably hitting the homer,” Langford said with a laugh. “Merrill [Kelly] probably likes the robbery more, though.” The home run power has always been part of Langford's game well before his professional career started after he was selected at No. 3 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. But his defensive abilities haven’t always gotten the same praise. 2025: LF: (744 1/3 innings): 9 defensive runs saved, 5 outs above average CF: (278 1/3 innings): 6 DRS, 6 OAA 2024: LF: (832 2/3 IP): 12 DRS, 2 OAA CF: (95 IP): 2 DRS, 0 OAA |
Going into the 2023 Draft, Langford was regarded as an OK defender. Nothing crazy, but not a liability in the field. That’s not incredibly shocking in the grand scheme of things, considering he was just two years removed from being Florida’s bullpen catcher his freshman season. MLB Pipeline had him as a 50-grade defender, while FanGraphs had him with a 30-grade glove. FanGraphs’ prospect report at the end of the 2024 season said: “He graduated as one of baseball's top prospects despite his poor defense because his ability to turn on inner half pitches with power is very special.” “This guy was a catcher,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “Not to get on catchers, I love catchers, but to go from there to playing the defense that he's playing, it’s great. We've seen the growth of him in left field. There's some balls there that he probably hadn't seen before. “The way he has been playing, that shows you what a great athlete this guy is. He's just fun to watch -- the speed, it's just a powerful run. I've talked about it, but he gets a good read on the ball. He's aggressive, and he plays with no fear, whether it's running bases, defense or swinging the bat, he's full throttle.” |
Langford, for what it’s worth, has never lacked confidence in the outfield. “Every year I'm getting more confidence out there,” he said. “Last year was probably the best I felt [in the outfield]. In college, I felt like I was still learning. At the same time, it was only like 50 games. Last year, I was able to play a hundred or so games out there.” But over the last two seasons, Langford has shown himself to be more than a plus defender. He’s looked comfortable and confident and even when he may make a mistake, he’s a good enough athlete to recover well and make a play on the ball. Rangers third base coach Tony Beasley, who also coaches the outfielders, noted that Langford just feels more consistent this season. In 2024, his rookie year, he was the designated hitter a lot early in the season, and once he started playing the outfield more, it took a bit of time to recover. |
The metrics earlier in the season reflected that, before recovering majorly over the final two months. This season, Langford has doubled his fielding run value, going from +5 in 2024 (29th among MLB outfielders to +10 in ‘25 (5th among MLB outfielders). “I like the aggressiveness, and I think the main thing is just freeing him up,” Beasley said. “Let him have fun, let him play hard, let him be like what his character dictates. I don't put a lot of pressure on him to go out there. I just want him to go out and play. … He's playing good right now. I love how he's played defense this year, and it's just a part of his maturation process.” |
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CORNIELL ELEVATED TO TRIPLE-A |
Right-hander pitcher Jose Corniell -- the Rangers’ No. 3-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline -- has been promoted to Triple-A Round Rock, the club announced on Tuesday. Corniell has posted a 0.45 ERA in 20 innings at Double-A Frisco in his return from Tommy John surgery. The 23-year-old was acquired from the Mariners in exchange for Rafael Montero in December 2020, and he compiled a 6.02 ERA in his first two seasons in the organization before winning Texas' Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award in 2023 with a 2.92 ERA between the two A-ball levels.
Many thought he could be the best pitcher in the system before Tommy John cost him all of 2024 and most of ‘25. He is on the 40-man roster, so a promotion to Triple-A doesn’t go unnoticed for those keeping an eye on ‘26.
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