Wyatt Langford debut: Former Florida star and 2023 No. 4 pick batting 5th for Texas Rangers on MLB Opening Day
Former Florida baseball slugger Wyatt Langford has hit at every level of his baseball career and is already off to The Show.
Langford, who was drafted fourth overall by the Texas Rangers fewer than nine months ago, is batting fifth and serving as designated hitter for the MLB World Series defending champions against the Cubs on Thursday.
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MLB's No. 6 overall prospect sported a .365 batting average with six home runs and 20 RBIs in his 63 at-bats (71 plate appearances) in Spring Training, forcing his way onto the Opening Day roster despite his limited professional experience. Langford profiles as one of the best hitters among all MLB prospects, as scouts gave him a 60 hit grade and a 70 power grade.
Langford led the Gators to the College World Series last season, where they fell to in-conference rival LSU in the national championship. The 6-foot-1 outfielder finished his final collegiate season with an absurd .373 batting average with 21 home runs.
Florida fans can watch Langford on national TV on Thursday, as the Rangers' game against Chicago will air live on ESPN.
Here's everything to know about Langford's debut on Thursday:
More: Watch Wyatt Langford's MLB debut live with Fubo (free trial)
How to watch Texas Rangers vs Chicago Cubs on Opening Day
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app, Fubo (free trial)
Florida fans can watch former Gators star Wyatt Langford make his MLB debut on ESPN on Thursday, with streaming options on the ESPN app or Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Where is Wyatt Langford batting?
Rangers prospect Wyatt Langford will make his MLB debut batting fifth as Texas' designated hitter on Thursday.
Langford, MLB's No. 6 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, is at designated hitter as the Rangers boast an outfield of MLB All-Star Adolis Garcia, top prospect Evan Carter and centerfielder Leody Taveras.
Wyatt Langford stats:
Spring training stats: .365 batting average with six home runs and 20 RBIs | 1.137 OPS in 63-at bats
Career college stats: .363 batting average with 47 home runs and 120 RBIs | 1.217 OPS in 496 at-bats
What time is Rangers vs Cubs?
Date: Thursday, March 28
Time: 7:35 p.m. ET
The firs pitch of Rangers vs Cubs will be at 7:35 p.m. ET on ESPN. As the defending World Series champions, the Rangers will also have a banner-raising ceremony prior to the first pitch.
With Langford batting fifth in the order, he'll see Cubs pitching within the first two innings. Justin Steele is expected to be on the mound for Chicago, whereas Nathan Eovaldi is penciled as the Opening Day starter for the Rangers.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Wyatt Langford debut: Former Florida star playing on MLB Opening Day
