Wyatt Langford finished seventh in the AL Rookie of the Year voting after finishing with 17 homers and 74 RBIs. [Photo: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images]

Gators in the Pros: Wyatt Langford Looking to Take Next Step After Big Rookie Year

SURPRISE, Ariz. — For Wyatt Langford, professional baseball has been a race.

Growing up in Trenton, Florida, a mere 30 miles from Gainesville, the high school star went to the University of Florida and never looked back, earning All-American recognition twice en route to becoming the fourth pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. He’s since sprinted through the professional ranks, rising from the Texas Rangers’ rookie-level Arizona Complex League to Triple-A play in the 2023 season.

Last year, he debuted on the Rangers’ Opening-Day roster and played in 134 games, batting .253 with 17 home runs and 74 RBIs, while slugging .422. Now, the 23-year-old lines up for the next dash of his career — a full 162-game MLB season — unbothered by his rapid rise to stardom.

Sports@CJC caught up with Langford in March at the Rangers’ spring training complex in Surprise to talk about his standout rookie season, his relationship with Jac Caglianone and his former Gators teammates plus some of his other favorite memories from his time at UF.

1. How has the spring been? What have you been working on during spring training?

Langford: It’s been great. Just, really, just staying healthy; I started off a little banged up. So kind of back from that now, just trying to catch up on a couple at-bats.

2. You progressed really quickly last year. We’re a season in, two spring trainings. How have things kind of settled in, and why do you think you were able to move so quickly?

Langford: Yeah, it’s been good. You know, I was very lucky. I played good for a couple weeks in the minor leagues, and that definitely helped. And the people are in charge here, they have a lot of faith in me. They trust me. So they were able to push me a little quicker than usual. I’m super thankful for that.

3. We’ve talked with a lot of other former UF players here throughout spring training, and they’ve all emphasized having impactful relationships with their former teammates. Can you speak to that a little bit? Do you still talk to any of those guys?

Langford: Yeah, definitely. Especially the guys, you know, I played with, lived with. I got a couple out here: Colby Halter [A’s organization] and Ryan Slater [Giants organization], they’re both out here for spring training. We hung out a bunch, and obviously have like, guys like Dane Dunning on this team. It’s super cool.

The No. 4 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Wyatt Langford is the second-highest-drafted player in UF baseball history. [Photo: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images]

4. Do you have any specific memories from your time at UF that you still hold on to, specifically, not even just the team, but, you know, just after school itself?

Langford: Yeah, a lot of them. You know, growing up, I was always a big Gator fan. Went to all the football games and all that stuff. It’s always awesome to go to. And you know, we still go when we get the chance.

5. I know you’re from that area. Is there anything you miss about Gainesville in any capacity?

Langford: I mean, that’s where I spend the offseason. Me and my wife lived there in Trenton. We spend a lot of time there.

6. How do you think spring training kind of helps you set yourself up in season, but also is used as a way to progress yourself so quickly?

Langford: It’s what you use to kind of get ready. It’s very similar in college, you have your, like, scrimmages and stuff that you do. So just, you really just kind of approach it as like, really, you’re getting your practice to get ready for the season.

7. What was your favorite moment from college ball? Obviously you had the World Series run in ’23 and the game-tying homer against Virginia in the ninth inning in your first game in Omaha. I think that was the one where I probably saw you show the most emotion. What was that moment like? That whole run and the camaraderie of the team?

Langford: Yeah, it was awesome. It was one of the things where we had a lot of older guys in the team. And that’s usually what happens with those teams that are really good. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get it done. We faced a really good LSU team the same way, a bunch of older guys kind of getting together. And then you definitely remember that forever.

Wyatt Langford was sensational during the Gators' 2023 CWS run, including a 5-for-5, six-RBI performance in Game 2 of the championship round. — Wyatt Langford was sensational during UF’s 2023 CWS run, including a 5-for-5, six-RBI performance in Game 2 of the championship round. IPhoto: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images]

8. How much do you still talk to Jac Caglianone and just kind of compare notes or what is the level of communication?

Langford: Yeah, it’s awesome to see. I mean, it’s no surprise he’s such a good player. Yeah, we talk a lot. Our parents, actually, they’re staying out here together. They got an Airbnb or whatever since we’ve been here in Surprise. So now we spend a lot of time together. We still talk a bunch.

9. UF churns out a lot of high-level prospects, you’re one of the more recent ones. What advice would you have for them in making that transition pro ball?

Langford: Yeah, I mean, it’s not really hard. The coaching staff there does a really good job, kind of, preparing you for it. And then just just really, like I said, the amount of games, even at the minor league level, is still two, almost three times as much as you ever play in college. So that’s the biggest difference.

More Gators in the Pros:
* Jonathan India Adjusting to Life With Royals After Trade
* A.J. Puk Starting to Feel Comfortable in Deep D’backs ‘Pen
* Dane Dunning on Winning a World Series, His Time With UF
* Hurston Waldrep Working on Getting Back to ‘The Show’ in Atlanta

Category: Cactus League, Gators in the Pros, Texas Rangers, Top Stories
Tagged: Florida Gators Baseball Jac Caglianone MLB Spring Training Texas Rangers Wyatt Langford