Following a much-awaited pregame move on Saturday, the Texas Rangers’ outfield is back to full strength.
Wyatt Langford, a left fielder, was activated from the 10-day disabled list by the Rangers, who made the announcement on X (previously Twitter). The Rangers optioned infielder Justin Foscue back to Triple-A Round Rock to make way for him.
On Thursday, Langford participated in one rehab game with Double-A Frisco, going one for three and hitting a home run. He did not play when he joined the Rangers in San Diego on Friday. His first day of eligibility for activation was Saturday.
Due to a left oblique injury, Texas placed the 23-year-old on the 10-day injured list on June 27 (retroactive to June 25). Langford claimed to have been coping with the ailment for a few weeks. In order to give Langford time to recover from the injury, the Rangers decided to make the trade now.
Langford spent time on the injured list earlier this season, sidelined from April 9–20 due to a right oblique strain.
Through 67 games this year, he’s posted a .232 batting average, a .308 on-base percentage, and a .421 slugging percentage, along with 13 home runs and 31 RBIs. Now in his second season, Langford was the Rangers’ first-round pick (No. 4 overall) in the 2023 MLB Draft and made his major league debut on Opening Day last year.
Heading into Saturday’s matchup, Texas sits two games below .500 and has nine road games remaining before the All-Star break.
Despite Langford’s return, Michael Helman stayed with the team. Helman joined the Rangers in May after being designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Originally called up from Triple-A Round Rock to fill in during Langford’s absence, Helman has appeared in three games for Texas, going hitless in two at-bats but drawing two walks, scoring two runs, and stealing a base.