The Texas Rangers got their guy back Thursday, activating Wyatt Langford from the 10-day injured list before the rubber match against the Angels. That’s the kind of timing that can shift the mood in a dugout.
Langford had been out with a left hamstring strain, an injury that sidelined him at a point when the Rangers desperately needed some offensive consistency. He took live batting practice Wednesday after running the bases and doing defensive work Tuesday. The progression looked clean, and the team didn’t waste time getting him back in the lineup.
His numbers before the IL stint were solid. Langford hit .278 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs over 40 games. For a 24-year-old in his second season, that’s production with room to grow. The Rangers think he can be more consistent than he’s shown so far.
The corresponding move was sending infielder Josh Smith to Triple-A Round Rock. Smith had been filling in around the diamond but the Rangers clearly wanted Langford’s bat in the order for a game that carries some weight before the All-Star break.
A lineup that needed help
Texas beat the Angels 8-3 on Tuesday. Then they got absolutely shelled 13-1 on Wednesday. That kind of whiplash is the story of this team’s season. One night everything clicks. The next night it’s over by the third inning.
Langford can’t stop that from happening by himself. But his presence changes how opposing pitchers attack the middle of the order. He’s a threat to go deep from any count. He also runs well enough to create chaos on the bases when he gets on.
The Rangers have been searching for steadier production all year. Some of that is on the injured guys. Some of it is just a lineup that hasn’t quite found its rhythm. Getting Langford back is one piece of the puzzle.
Manager Skip Schumaker now has a bat he can trust in a high-leverage spot. That matters for a team trying to stay in the mix leading into the break.
What’s next for Langford
The Rangers didn’t put any restrictions on him for Thursday’s game. He’s expected to start in the outfield and hit somewhere near the middle of the order. The team will monitor his hamstring but the medical staff signed off on full activity.
If Langford picks up where he left off, the Rangers get a boost that’s hard to quantify in just numbers. It’s the kind of addition that makes the whole lineup feel deeper. And for a team that’s been up and down all year, that feeling matters more than usual.
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