Rangers OF Wyatt Langford's MLB progression stalled again by injury

Facing Miami Marlins pitcher Eury Perez with one out in the fourth inning last Wedneday, Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford opened the scoring by launching a 437-foot home run at loanDepot park. 

The next night, opening a four-game series against the host Toronto Blue Jays, Langford drilled a 401-foot, three-run homer, marking the second time in eight games he connected during back-to-game gamres this season. 

In his previous 31 appearances this season, the 2023 No. 4 overall draft choice struggled to produce power, collecting just three homers.

During Friday's outing against the Blue Jays, Langford didn't homer, but he went 3-for-5 with a double and stolen base. MLB insiders started projecting Langford would parlay a strong June into a productive second half.

Maybe, but another injury may sideline him until the after the All-Star Game break in mid-July.

Hampered by right forearm tightness, Langford was scratched from Saturday's start and was replacled by on the roster by outfielder Evan Carter, who was activated from IL before Sunday's 3-2 victory at Rogers Centre. 

Rangers' Wyatt Langford fighting injury bug

While his bat speed continues to slow the past two seasons, Langford has experimented with different bat paths, aiming to generate more lift to the pull side, while not conflicting with his above-average contact rate. 

Emerging from a early-season funk, the 24-year-old slashed .317/.371/.634 since he returned from his first stint on the the injured list June 5. In his previous 15 outings, he batted .359.

In his opening 20 gamres, Langford had one homer.

Langford was scheduled to bat second Saturday, but was scratched before the first pitch.

Along with an June offensive surge, Langford started to display defensive versatility by roaming center field while Carter healed from an oblique injury. In his first game back Sunday, Carter went 0-for-2 with strike out. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning. 

Coming off a four-game sweep of the reeling Blue Jays, the Rangers open a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. At 42-42, the Rangers lead the second-place Seattle Mariners by a half-game in the AL West.

Can the Rangers maintain their front-running position without the offensively-enhanced Langford?

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