Wyatt Langford’s Breakout Season Establishes Him as a Rangers Star
Wyatt Langford, the Texas Rangers’ young left fielder, took major strides in his second MLB season in 2025, solidifying himself as one of the team’s rising stars.
Drafted in the first round of 2023 while Texas was chasing its first World Series title, Langford quickly rose through the minor leagues and made the Opening Day roster in 2024. Though his rookie year was slowed by injuries and the usual early struggles, flashes of star potential were clear.
By 2025, Langford took a clear step forward. While not yet an All-Star, his performance suggests that the Rangers should consider extending his contract before he reaches arbitration next season.
2025 Season Overview – Left Field
Starter: Wyatt Langford (134 games, .241/.344/.431, 22 HR, 62 RBI, 25 doubles, 73 runs, 22 stolen bases).
Backup: Alejandro Osuna (40 games, .212/.313/.278, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 12 runs).
Fielding: Langford posted a .994 fielding percentage over 1,160 innings with only two errors. Osuna was perfect in the field with a 1.000 percentage.
Season Notes
Despite spending time on the injured list three times with oblique issues, Langford’s numbers didn’t suffer. He led the team in runs, home runs, stolen bases, walks (74), and total bases (211). Only Josh Smith and Adolis García played more games than him.
Langford proved himself as a versatile and athletic player, providing both defensive stability in left field and speed on the bases. He occasionally filled in at center field when Evan Carter was injured, though the team prefers to keep him in left.
Osuna impressed during spring training but spent much of the year in Triple-A. While he struggled offensively in the Majors, Texas still views him as a promising future contributor.
Future Outlook
Langford enters his third season under team control and remains pre-arbitration eligible. The Rangers may look to secure him long-term with an extension that covers his arbitration years and early free agency. He’s considered part of the club’s core and has All-Star potential.
Osuna remains a rookie by service time and will compete for a roster spot next year. Texas could consider shifting Langford to center field if roster changes occur, though for now he’s expected to remain in left.
Evan Carter’s Future in Texas Remains Uncertain After Another Injury-Plagued Year
Evan Carter showed tremendous potential during the Rangers’ 2023 championship run, but recurring injuries have since clouded his future. As the team heads into 2026, his ability to stay healthy is a major concern.
After missing most of 2024 with a back injury that required surgery, Carter spent the offseason adjusting his swing to reduce strain. Unfortunately, 2025 brought more setbacks — a quad strain, back spasms, and finally a wrist fracture that ended his season after just 63 games.
2025 Season Overview – Center Field
Starter: Evan Carter (63 games, .247/.336/.392, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 14 SB).
Other Contributors: Wyatt Langford (134 games), Sam Haggerty, and Michael Helman.
Fielding: Carter maintained a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage across 460 innings. Langford also performed well defensively when filling in.
Season Notes
Carter began 2025 at Triple-A Round Rock to refine his new swing. Leody Taveras opened the year as the center fielder but was later designated for assignment, paving the way for Carter’s return.
Unfortunately, Carter’s injuries kept him sidelined for much of the season. Still, when healthy, his combination of speed and defense showed glimpses of the dynamic player the Rangers hoped he’d become.
Langford occasionally filled in at center, while Helman (.232, 5 HR) and Haggerty (.253, 2 HR) provided reliable depth and defensive versatility.
Future Outlook
Carter, still only 23, remains under team control and is pre-arbitration. The Rangers want to give him another chance to secure the starting center field job, but his frequent injuries have raised concerns about long-term reliability.
If he can stay healthy, Carter still has the potential to be a key piece of Texas’s future. The club has several affordable options for 2026, including Langford, Haggerty, and Helman, giving them flexibility to evaluate the best fit during spring training.
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