Wyatt Langford set to sign biggest MLB Draft contract in Florida baseball history
A kid from Trenton, Florida wrote his name all over the Florida baseball history books. The next time Wyatt Langford signs his name it will be for millions of dollars.
Langford was selected fourth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. The slotted signing bonus for the fourth overall pick was $7,698,000. Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline reported that Langford will sign with the Rangers on Tuesday for $8,000,000 — $302,000 more than the slot.
Langford trails only Mike Zunino (third overall in 2012) as the top draft pick in the history of the program. He surpassed Sterlin Thompson (31st in 2022) as the highest-drafted Gator outfielder. Langford is the 18th first-round pick in program history (24th including the post-draft secondary phase) and 12th since Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s 2008 arrival, which ranks second nationally.
In being drafted fourth overall, Langford is the 216th individual draft selection in UF baseball history and the 100th in the O’Sullivan era. The latter total represents the third-most in the SEC since 2008.
Wyatt Langford signs the 6th biggest MLB Draft deal in history
Paul Skenes, 2023, $9,200,000
Spencer Torkelson, 2020, $8,416,300
Jackson Holliday, 2022, $8,190,000
Druw Jones, 2022, $8,189,400
Adley Rutschman, 2019, $8,100,000
Gerrit Cole, 2011, $8,000,000
Wyatt Langford, 2023, $8,000,000
Langford’s career at Florida
Langford arrived at Florida as an infielder. The best player on every team he’d ever played on, Langford couldn’t crack the lineup in 2021. He appeared in just four games, all as a pinch hitter. Langford dedicated himself to the weight room, transformed his body and made the move to the outfield.
From 2022-23, Langford blasted more homers (47) than any Gator across a two-year span at UF. His 47 long balls are tied with Zunino for sixth all-time at Florida, while also ranking fifth in batting average (.363), seventh in on-base percentage (.471) and setting the program’s record for career slugging percentage at .746.
Langford earned All-America status for the second-straight year, becoming a Unanimous First Teamer after being named a Unanimous Preseason All-American in February. Langford bashed 20 home runs for the second-consecutive season, becoming the third Gator to do so alongside Brad Wilkerson (1997-98) and Jud Fabian (2021-22). He finished the year with a .373/.498/.784 batting line, 21 homers, 83 runs, 57 RBI and 28 runs – which tied Mike Zunino’s program record.
The two-time All-American wrapped up his career in Orange & Blue with a .363/.471/.746 slash line accompanied by 90 extra-base hits, 156 runs, 120 RBI and 16 stolen bases. He made one error over 108 career chances, good for a .991 fielding percentage.
