Wyatt Langford will return to Gators lineup this weekend
Inclement weather postponed the Florida Gators series opener at Ole Miss Friday but that isn’t the only storm in Oxford. The Trenton Thunder will make his return to the lineup this weekend. Wyatt Langford traveled to Oxford with the team took batting practice and ran sprints on Friday. Kevin O’Sullivan confirmed to Gators Online that Langford will be on the 27-man roster this weekend and is planned to serve as a designated hitter for Florida.
SEC travel rules stipulate that a visiting team can only dress 27 players while on the road. The 27 participating student-athletes for both the home and visiting team must be declared prior to the first game of a Conference series and may not be changed during the course of the series.
Langford exited a March 10 game against Siena with an undisclosed injury. At the time, Kevin O’Sullivan didn’t have a timetable for Langford’s return.
“He was evaluated and treated by the doctors last night,” Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “It’s going to take a little bit of time for him to get back. There’s really no timeline but we will get him back. These things are going to take a little bit of time.”
Langford underwent surgery but has been with the team in the dugout during his seven-game absence.
On the season Langford is slashing .431/.557/.931 with six home runs and six more walks (14) than strikeouts in 16 games. Langford was named the SEC Player of the Week on March 6.
In Langford’s absence, Florida has used Deric Fabian, Dale Thomas, and Richie Schiekofer in left field. While the Gators have put together a 6-1 record without Langford in the lineup, there is no replacing his bat or glove in left field.
Florida-Ole Miss postponed on Friday
Due to inclement weather, Friday night’s game between No. 3 Florida and No. 13 Ole Miss has been moved to Saturday, March 25. The two teams are now scheduled to play a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.
With the doubleheader scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, game two of the twin bill will begin one hour after the conclusion of game one. Both ends of the doubleheader will be nine-inning games, televised on SEC Network+.
UPDATED SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 25: Game One – 2:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, March 25: Game Two – 1 hour after the conclusion of game one
Sunday, March 26: Game Three – 2:30 p.m. ET
