What they're saying about Florida Gators baseball star Wyatt Langford ahead of MLB Draft
Is Wyatt Langford about to make history?
The first two rounds of the 2023 MLB Draft begin at 7 p.m. ET Sunday on ESPN and MLB Network — and Langford potentially could be selected No. 1 overall. That’s never happened for a Florida Gator.
Langford, an outfielder, is coming off another huge season in Gainesville.
He batted .373 with 21 homers and 57 RBI. He reached base 49.8 percent of the time and had a .784 slugging percentage.
Ahead of the draft, here’s what they’re saying about Langford ….
SPORTSLINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates won the first-ever draft lottery in the sport and will pick first. On Thursday, they were favored at DraftKings to take ace pitcher Paul Skenes from national champion LSU just ahead of outfielder teammate Dylan Crews, but now the favorite is Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford at +150.
It’s tough betting on a draft because there are so many rumors and smokescreens. Earlier this year, we saw crazy odds shifts immediately ahead of both the NFL and NBA Drafts in regards to which player would go second overall (we knew who would go first in both).
Langford maybe be willing to take a lower number than Skenes, and the Pirates reportedly to want to take a hitter with the first pick. Crews was the presumptive top pick for months, but is rumored to be demanding an over-slot bonus, and is said to be reticent to sign with Pittsburgh should the Pirates take him first.
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TORONTO STAR: “Langford visited Pittsburgh earlier this week and is the favorite to become a Buc as of Saturday afternoon.
The utility man out of Florida had spells at catcher, left field and first base for the Gators this season. That type of versatility is always welcome but what really separates Langford is his bat. The 21-year-old slashed .373/.498/.784 this season with 52 extra-base hits in 64 games.
His 1.282 OPS was the 10th-best in all of Division-I baseball.
If the Pirates are looking for a hitter, and by all reports they are, Langford would be a solid pick.‘
SPORTING NEWS: Langford may fall a bit short of being a five-tool player — LSU’s Dylan Crews may be the only one in this draft who fits that description — but he’s a riveting prospect. Langford’s swing is impressively compact for the power he generates, and he makes solid contact. He has 44 strikeouts to 56 walks this season, which marks the first time in his collegiate career he’s walked more than he’s struck out.
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Langford is a strong candidate to go either first overall to the Pirates or third to the Tigers. And in either system, he would immediately emerge as the team’s top prospect.
Although Langford’s defense certainly needs work, his bat could well rival Crews’. Note his bat speed and movement economy when he makes true contact.
MLB.COM: “The first thing you might notice about Wyatt Langford if you ever get the chance to sit down with him is that he isn’t one for many words. He keeps his response to any question concise, and he speaks in a low, polite tone.
His bat though — well, that’s a different story. And that’s exactly how the 21-year-old wants it to be.
In his own words, ‘I don’t really like to talk much. I like to let my play on the field do the talking.’ And his performance has been nothing shy of a lion’s roar as he gets set for the MLB Draft, where there is no question about his name being called on Day 1, but rather where among the Top 5 selections — with a strong case for No. 1.”
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SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH: “Watch Langford play, and there’s no flash or swag to his game. He typically eschews batting gloves, going full George Brett in stepping to the plate with just his bare hands and a bat. Langford doesn’t wear any of the other trendy things you see these days, either. There’s no bright yellow arm guard, no shin protector, and no bling. Langford just lets his big bat, which earned him the nickname ‘Trenton Thunder,’ do the talking. Langford’s game-tying, no-doubt laser to tie Florida’s CWS opener with Virginia was about as emotional or ‘showy’ as you’ll ever see Langford on a baseball field. Anything grander is just not his style.’
