Wyatt Langford reflects on Gators career, becoming a top draft pick

Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford made history Sunday in the MLB Draft, becoming the second-highest Gator draftee ever. The Texas Rangers selected Langford with the No. 4 pick.

Only Mike Zunino (third overall in 2012) was drafted higher than him. After having his name called, Langford joined the ESPN broadcast to share his reaction with a new Rangers hat on.

“I’m glad to be wearing it. It’s hard to describe the emotions going through me right now, but I’m just really excited,” Langford said.

Langford blasted 20-plus home runs for the second-consecutive season in 2023, becoming the third Gator to do so alongside Brad Wilkerson (1997-98) and Jud Fabian (2021-22).

He earned All-American honors for the second year in a row and finished with a .373/.498/.784 batting line, 21 homers, 83 runs, 57 RBI and 28 runs, which tied Zunino’s school record.

Langford smacked a 456-foot home run in the opening round of the College World Series, the longest in the history of Charles Schwab Field (since 2011). He also become the first player to hit three 400-foot homers in Omaha.

“Omaha was everything I expected and more,” Langford said. “We had a great team and we had a great run. We just came up a little short, but I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.”

From 2022-23, Langford hit more homers (47) than any Gator across a two-year span at UF. He had a breakout sophomore season after just four at-bats as a freshman.

Langford reflected on his growing pains in 2021 coming from Trenton High School.

“I learned a lot about myself and the team overall and kind of just the whole college experience,” Langford said. “Coming into school, I thought I was a top dog coming from a small town. But then I realized that wasn’t the case. So, I had to put my head down and work hard and wait for my opportunity to come.”

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What they’re saying about Langford

MLB Pipeline: “Langford has five-tool potential. He can really hit, with excellent swing mechanics and a very good approach at the plate, one that helped him limit strikeouts while drawing walks. It also aided in his ability to tap into his considerable raw power, which some area scouts said is plus-plus. Strong and muscle-bound, he’s capable of being at least an above-average runner as well.

“While he was a third baseman and a catcher in high school, Langford started every day in left field for the Gators in 2022. There was some thought he’d slide over to center field this year, and reports on him there last fall were very encouraging, but he ended up back in left once the 2023 season got underway. He plays hard and aggressively.”

Baseball America: “The 6-foot-1, 225-pound outfielder’s game is centered on his power and hitting ability. Scouts have given him 70-grade raw power evaluations, and his all-fields home run production and gaudy exit velocities back that up. Langford has a simple and direct swing from the right side, with few moving parts and a low handset and slight leg kick to get started.

“He has more than enough bat speed to handle velocity — he produced a 1.725 OPS vs. 92-plus mph pitches in a 238-pitch sample — and generally stays within the strike zone, though he occasionally shows a tendency to leak with his lower half out on outer third breaking balls… One of the most accomplished offensive players in the class.”