Texas Rangers Explain Why They’re Delaying Activation of Star Slugger from IL
The Texas Rangers had planned to activate one of their top young hitters, Wyatt Langford, from the 10-day injured list ahead of Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However, the Rangers decided to give Langford an extra day before bringing him back into the lineup. Although Saturday marked Langford’s first day of eligibility to be activated, manager Bruce Bochy explained the decision to wait. Langford had completed a two-game rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco, but Bochy wanted to ensure the young outfielder was fully prepared for game action.
While Langford was not included in the starting lineup for Saturday’s game, he was present in the clubhouse and reported feeling good following his rehab stint. Bochy noted that, after a rehab assignment, players often experience some general soreness due to the step down in competition. He emphasized the slight risk of rushing a player back into action immediately and felt it was best to give Langford one more day of rest before reintroducing him into the game.
“Anytime you go on a rehab assignment, you’re going down a level, and you’re not quite at game speed. There’s some general soreness, and there’s a little risk right away,” Bochy explained. “We talked about it and decided to give him a day today and get him in the game tomorrow.”
Langford’s activation will likely happen on Sunday, though the Rangers will need to make a roster move to accommodate him. Bochy did not reveal which player might be sent down.
During his rehab stint, Langford showed positive signs of recovery. In his first game with Frisco, he homered and served as the designated hitter. The following day, he doubled in his first at-bat and played seven innings in the field.
Langford was placed on the injured list last week due to a right oblique strain he sustained on April 9 against the Chicago Cubs. It was a recurrence of a previous oblique issue that had briefly sidelined him during spring training. Despite the injury, Langford was ready for Opening Day.
In his absence, the Rangers have rotated Josh Smith, Kevin Pillar, and Dustin Harris in left field. Langford started the first 12 games of the season, posting a .244/.333/.561 slash line with four home runs and six RBIs. Last year, he had a solid rookie campaign, slashing .253/.325/.415 with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs, finishing seventh in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. Although he has started slowly this season, his potential remains high, with a .235/.325/.500 slash line in his first 10 games. Langford’s strong showing at Florida, where he was a polished hitter, contributed to his selection as the fourth overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Leave a Reply