Florida slugger Wyatt Langford pens emotional goodbye to Gator fans

The Florida Gators had a magical run during the 2023 college baseball season. Sure, their 2023 campaign ultimately ended in a heartbreaking loss in Game 3 of the CWS championship series with the LSU Tigers, but the Gators should be proud of all they accomplished.

After all, even in one of the most loaded College World Series’ fields of all-time, the Gators were one of the last two teams standing in Omaha. That alone is remarkably impressive. Florida also put a historic beatdown on LSU in Game 2 of the championship series.

Following the end of their magical 2023 campaign, Gators’ slugger Wyatt Langford penned an emotional goodbye to the Florida fan base on his Twitter page.

Thank you gator nation for allowing me to live out my dream 🧡💙 I loved every second playing at Florida and wouldn’t change a thing! Grateful for all the memories and support. Go gators! #36 pic.twitter.com/2gaYqval5R

— Wyatt Langford (@langford_wyatt) June 30, 2023

“Thank you gator nation for allowing me to live out my dream. I loved every second of playing at Florida and wouldn’t change a thing. Grateful for all the memories and support. Go gators! #36.”

There’s no question that Langford was a massive part of propelling the Gators all the way to the CWS Finals this year. He finished the 2023 campaign with 21 home runs, 57 RBIs, 185 total bases, and an impressive .373 batting average.

ESPN’S MLB Analyst, Kiley McDaniel recently did an excellent comparison of Wyatt Langford vs. LSU’s Dylan Crews during the 2023 College World Series. The MLB Network also did an analysis of his unique swing style. He figures to be one of the top prospects selected in the upcoming 2023 MLB Draft.

The latest mock draft from MLB Pipeline has Langford projected to go No. 3 overall in the upcoming draft to the Detroit Tigers.

For more on Florida and their historic showing on Sunday in the CWS Finals against LSU, check out the article below from On3’s Chandler Vessels.

The Florida Gators had their backs against the wall on Sunday, needing to win Game 2 to keep their season alive during their CWS Final matchup against the LSU Tigers. They responded in historic fashion, destroying baseball after baseball deep into the seats at Charles Schwab Field, essentially putting on their own version of a home run derby.

After the smoke had cleared, the Gators had hit six home runs, the most in a single game at Charles Schwab Field (combined or by one team.) Florida absolutely obliterated the LSU Tigers, 24-4. The 24 runs they scored were the most ever in a College World Series game, breaking the previous record of 23. That record was set by Notre Dame vs. Northern Colorado in 1957 and Arizona State vs. Oklahoma State in 1984.

Not only did Florida accomplish plenty of history as a team on Sunday with their 24-4 obliteration of the Tigers, but slugger Jac Caglianone added yet another record to his prolific 2023 campaign.

He shattered the BBCOR era single-season home run record after he destroyed his 33rd home run of the season. His two-run blast put the Gators up 19-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Florida tacked on five more runs in the ninth inning to put their special stamp on College World Series history on Sunday night.

Florida shattered numerous records on Sunday

Florida slugger Ty Evans got the scoring started with a solo homer in the second inning, but it was his next home run that served as the turning point in the game. After the Tigers scored a pair of runs to tie the game at three apiece, the sophomore stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. He remained unfazed by the moment, however, launching a ball to left field that went over the fence for a grand slam.

That play gave Florida a 7-3 lead it would never relinquish, and it was far from the end of the scoring onslaught. The Gators went on to add 17 more runs after that moment, also setting the College World Series record for most runs in a game. As if that weren’t impressive enough, their 20-run victory is the largest margin in CWS history.

Wyatt Langford, who finished the day a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate, joined in on the home run party with a three-RBI shot in the sixth inning. Caglianone then stepped up immediately after him with a solo homer that brought the Florida lead to double digits. He added his second home run of the afternoon in the eighth, before BT Riopelle closed things out in the ninth by knocking one out of the park himself.

With their six home runs Sunday, the Gators added insult to injury by surpassing LSU for the most in the country with 143 this season. Florida also got two home runs each from Ty Evans and Jac Caglianone in Sunday’s home run derby. 

On3’s Chandler Vessels also contributed to this article.