Wyatt Langford makes Opening Day roster for Texas Rangers
University of Florida two-time All-American outfielder Wyatt Langford has made the Texas Rangers’ Opening Day MLB roster, as announced by manager Bruce Bochy on Friday.
Come Opening Day on Thursday, March 28, Langford will become the 83rd former Gator to debut in the MLB and the 31st to do so under head coach Kevin O’Sullivan – which is tied for tops in the sport. Langford is the first Gator to reach the Majors since Jacob Young did so on Aug. 26, 2023 with the Washington Nationals.
After being drafted fourth overall in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft by Texas, Langford rapidly ascended four levels of Minor League Baseball: Rookie, High-A, Double-A and Triple-A. Collectively, the slugger slashed .360/.480/.677 with 10 homers and more walks (36) than strikeouts (34).
Langford’s MiLB performance earned him an invitation to 2024 MLB Spring Training, where he proceeded to hit .388 with six home runs and 19 RBI in 49 at bats. That was good for a 1.242 OPS and an eventual spot on the Rangers’ Opening Day roster.
Across his three-year Gators career from 2021-23, Langford garnered virtually every honor possible. The Trenton, Fla. native was a Unanimous First Team All-American in 2023, also being named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team, a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist and First Team All-SEC after hauling in All-American and All-SEC accolades as a sophomore in 2022.
All told, Langford batted .363/.471/.746 across 134 career games. He totaled 47 home runs, 37 doubles, 156 runs, 120 RBI and 16 stolen bases. His .746 career slugging percentage is the highest in UF baseball history. Langford was also reliable in the field, making just one career error in 233 chances for a .996 fielding percentage.
Wyatt Langford the latest Florida Gator to make it to the MLB
| MLB Players Under O’Sullivan | ||||
| Player | Drafted (Round) | MLB Debut | Team | |
| 1 | Nick Maronde | 2011 (3rd) | September 2, 2012 | Los Angeles Angels |
| 2 | Paco Rodriguez | 2012 (2nd) | September 9, 2012 | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 3 | Mike Zunino | 2012 (1st – 3rd overall) | June 12, 2013 | Seattle Mariners |
| 4 | Kevin Chapman | 2010 (4th) | August 9, 2013 | Houston Astros |
| 5 | Matt den Dekker | 2010 (5th) | August 29, 2013 | New York Mets |
| 6 | Anthony DeSclafani | 2011 (6th) | May 14, 2014 | Miami Marlins |
| 7 | Cole Figueroa | 2008 (6th) | May 16, 2014 | Tampa Bay Rays |
| 8 | Preston Tucker | 2012 (7th) | May 7, 2015 | Houston Astros |
| 9 | Brian Johnson | 2012 (1st – 31st overall) | July 21, 2015 | Boston Red Sox |
| 10 | Nolan Fontana | 2012 (2nd) | May 22, 2017 | Los Angeles Angels |
| 11 | Austin Maddox | 2012 (3rd) | June 17, 2017 | Boston Red Sox |
| 12 | Harrison Bader | 2015 (3rd) | July 25, 2017 | St. Louis Cardinals |
| 13 | Bobby Poyner | 2015 (14th) | March 31, 2018 | Boston Red Sox |
| 14 | Justin Shafer | 2014 (8th) | August 19, 2018 | Toronto Blue Jays |
| 15 | Eric Hanhold | 2015 (6th) | September 4, 2018 | New York Mets |
| 16 | Richie Martin | 2015 (1st – 20th overall) | March 28, 2019 | Baltimore Orioles |
| 17 | Pete Alonso | 2016 (2nd) | March 28, 2019 | New York Mets |
| 18 | Shaun Anderson | 2016 (3rd) | May 15, 2019 | San Francisco Giants |
| 19 | A.J. Puk | 2016 (1st – 6th overall) | August 21, 2019 | Oakland Athletics |
| 20 | Brady Singer | 2018 (1st – 18th overall) | July 25, 2020 | Kansas City Royals |
| 21 | Dane Dunning | 2016 (1st – 29th overall) | August 19, 2020 | Chicago White Sox |
| 22 | Jonathan India | 2018 (1st – 5th overall) | Thursday, April 1, 2021 | Cincinnati Reds |
| 23 | Jackson Kowar | 2018 (1st – 33rd overall) | Monday, June 7, 2021 | Kansas City Royals |
| 24 | Taylor Gushue | 2014 (4th) | Wednesday, June 30, 2021 | Chicago Cubs |
| 25 | Kirby Snead | 2016 (10th) | Wednesday, July 28, 2021 | Toronto Blue Jays |
| 26 | Mark Kolozsvary | 2017 (7th) | Wednesday, April 20, 2022 | Cincinnati Reds |
| 27 | Alex Faedo | 2017 (1st – 18th overall) | Wednesday, May 4, 2022 | Detroit Tigers |
| 28 | Danny Young | 2015 (8th) | Monday, May 9, 2022 | Seattle Mariners |
| 29 | Dalton Guthrie | 2017 (6th) | Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022 | Philadelphia Phillies |
| 30 | Jacob Young | 2021 (7th) | Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023 | Washington Nationals |
| 31 | Wyatt Langford | 2023 (1st – 4th overall) | TBD | Texas Rangers |
