Bruce Bochy says former UF baseball slugger Wyatt Langford will get chance to make Texas Rangers roster in 2024

Former Florida Gators slugger Wyatt Langford slipped a few spots in last July’s Major League Baseball amateur draft, going fourth overall to the Texas Rangers.

But the draft day slide could end up being a blessing in disguise for the former Florida baseball All-American.

Langford is joining a Texas Rangers that only won its first World Series championship in 2023 but showed a willingness to play young players in the process. Last September, the Rangers called up 21-year-old outfielder Evan Carter, who was instrumental to the Rangers success, hitting .306 with 5 home runs and 12 RBIs in 23 games.

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Could Langford join Carter in the Texas outfield in 2024? Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was asked that question from Baseball’s Winter Meetings on MLB Network. Langford proved his worth on the farm over the summer in the Rangers system by batting .360 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs in 161 minor league at-bats.

“We’re not going to hold anyone back,” Bochy said. “He’s special. Every step of the way he kept putting up those numbers.

“He’ll come to spring training. We’re gonna stay open minded. It will be competitive, and he’ll have a chance to make the club.”

Langford helped power UF to its 13th College World Series appearance in school history last June, batting .373 with 21 home runs in 57 RBIs in his junior season. His 47 career home runs at UF rank tied for sixth all-time in school history, and his .746 slugging percentage ranks first, surpassing former Major Leaguer and UF standout Brad Wilkerson, who slugged at .712 during his college career.