Wyatt Langford is the Texas Rangers’ newest rookie sensation. Is he ready for opening day?

When the Texas Rangers drafted Wyatt Langford with the fourth pick in the 2023 MLB Draft., general manager Chris Young said at the outfielder’s introductory press conference last July that he was the perfect fit” for what the franchise was building.

Less than a year later and after an electric spring training that saw him hit .375 with six home runs and 20 RBIs, Langford is on the Opening Day roster.

Fellow rookie sensation Evan Carter is far from shocked.

“I’m not really surprised that he’s here, you know, it was almost expected,” said Carter, “He does everything really, really well. Well-rounded player, obviously hits for a ton of power but can also break counts, draw walks, just an unbelievable hitter.”

To put his spring training numbers into context Langford joined Mike Trout, Freddie Freeman and Ryan Zimmerman on the now six-man list of players 22 or younger to hit six home runs in spring training and every player on the list has earned at least one all-star selection.

One scout speaking to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman compared Langford to Trout, a comparison Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said he understands.

“Yeah, you see it a little bit, tremendous athletes with the gift to hit a baseball,” said Bochy.

Bochy said he wasn’t worried about the hype or the comparisons to Trout because of the rookies’ composure.

The moment Langford made the Rangers’ 40-man roster was captured for the docuseries Rangers All Access and showed the once-in-a-lifetime moment.

A Gainesville, Fla., native, Langford played collegiate baseball at the University of Florida and racked up numerous honors including a 2023 unanimous All-American selection, first-team All-SEC and 2023 College World Series All-Tournament Team.

The next stop for Langford was the minor leagues where he dominated from Single-A to Triple-A, hitting .360 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs with 36 runs scored.

Josh Jung roomed with Langford during spring training and understands what the rookie is going through. Jung was also a highly touted prospect who lived up to massive expectations in his first full season.

His advice to Carter and Langford: “Just go play your game. Don’t try to be anybody else. Don’t try to be anything else. What you are is perfect,” said Jung.

The ex-Florida Gator’s demeanor stood out to Jung.

“Confidence, his ability to quiet the noise,” said Jung, “You can see somebody come in and try to be more than they are and try to impress. He was just who he was and dominated spring training,” said Jung.

With all the expectations surrounding Langford, he stays focused by taking things as they come.

“You just got to take it day by day. You got to come to the field every day and just do the best you can to just get better that day. That’s how I go about it,” said Langford.

Family and friends will be out in support for the opening series of the Rangers season.

“My wife and her parents and then my parents are coming in so they’re all gonna watch me this weekend,” said Langford

Langford admitted he’s surprised himself with how quickly he’s risen to the Majors but said he was up to the challenge a sentiment his teammates and manager agree on.