As of a couple of years ago, Texas Rangers Outfielder Wyatt Langford was considered by some to be overhyped. Langford finished seventh in the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year voting. Some said he was overrated, while others said he had been snubbed and deserved a higher Rookie of the Year spot.
Which is it? Many people were so hyped about how great Langford was becoming and how great he could be that they somehow overlooked how great he had already become. Will the youngster keep impressing in 2026?
Wyatt Langford’s Ups and Downs
Langford has had a pretty rapid advancement. A year later, his bWAR already jumped to 5.6, which was the 12th best in the American League. However, Langford sadly did not make the All-Star team due to not yet being a household name. There was also great competition in that department in the American League.
So once again, Langford was overlooked. Also, he did not participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. However, when the roster was being put together, Langford was considered a potential replacement for Corbin Carroll, the injured outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but the spot ended up being given to Roman Anthony of the Boston Red Sox. Unfortunately, he was overlooked. Again.
The Overlooked Potential Rising Star
Chris Young, the Rangers president of baseball operations, said, “I think he’s tremendous. He made strides last year, and he’s only going to get better. But he’s already a really good player. I think he’s got the potential to be a great player.”
I think many people can pretty much agree on that. In fact, when he was ranked at No. 39 of the top 100 players in baseball, many people actually considered him to have been very underrated. Maybe even one of baseball’s most underrated players.
The High But Cautious Expectation For Langford
One of the reasons the Texas Rangers are predicted to make the postseason this year is because of Langford. He has been absolutely exceptional in his big league career thus far.
He has accumulated 9.5 bWAR over 268 games. Across the course of a 162-game season, He is currently averaging 5.8 bWAR. At 24 years old, having graduated from college only three years ago, Langford is progressing faster than many could have guessed. He has looked arguably better in this season than he did even back in Spring Training of 2024.
He has hit five home runs so far this spring. Many say he is ready to go to the next level. The Texas Rangers seem to have a strong lineup. Fans are cautiously optimistic as always, but the future for the Texas Rangers is looking bright.
