Rangers Rookie Wyatt Langford Hits for the Cycle in Dominant Win Over Orioles
The Texas Rangers have finally celebrated their first cycle of the 2024 MLB season, and it took rookie sensation Wyatt Langford to achieve this milestone. In a commanding 11-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, Langford's performance stood out, marking the 11th cycle in franchise history.
Langford’s cycle is a significant moment for the Rangers, as it is the first since Carlos Gómez accomplished the feat back in 2017. Moreover, Langford becomes just the second rookie in franchise history to hit for the cycle, joining Oddibe McDowell, who achieved this back in 1985. This makes Langford the first rookie to hit for the cycle since Elly De La Cruz did so on June 23 of the previous year.
The cycle is even more impressive considering the diversity of pitchers Langford faced. He flew out in his first at-bat against Cole Irvin but then tripled off Irvin by the fourth inning. In the fifth, he doubled against Nick Vespi. Later, he singled against Dillon Tate in the sixth inning before capping off the performance with a home run off Matt Krook in the eighth. Such an achievement off four different pitchers is a testament to Langford's adaptability and prowess at the plate.
Langford was selected by the Rangers with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft and entered the season as the No. 4 prospect in baseball. Despite high expectations, Langford initially struggled at the major league level, hitting just .224/.295/.293 through his first 31 games. His season didn’t get any easier as he suffered a hamstring strain which landed him on the injured list on May 4.
After returning on May 28, Langford showed marked improvement. In the 28 games since his return, his performance has seen a significant uptick, batting .275/.333/.422 with 18 strikeouts. This improvement indicates that Langford is becoming more comfortable at the highest level of the game, and his cycle against the Orioles could be a turning point for both him and the Rangers.
Looking at the season as a whole, the Rangers hold a 38-46 record following Sunday’s win. While an 11-2 victory is a morale booster, the team still finds itself eight games out of a wild-card spot. However, the emergence of talents like Langford provides a glimmer of hope for the franchise's future.
Notably, scouts have long been optimistic about Langford's potential. “Scouts have felt confident giving him plus offensive projections even before he took a pro at-bat," said R.J. Anderson. This confidence is starting to bear fruit, as evidenced by Langford’s latest performance.
As the season progresses, the Rangers and their fans will be eagerly watching to see if Langford can continue his upward trajectory and help propel the team into a more competitive position. His ability to achieve a cycle is just a chapter in what could be a very promising career.