Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Wyatt Langford Injury Update: What Happened to Rangers Outfielder?

The timing couldn’t be worse!

Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Just as the Rangers were starting to get healthy, another key piece hits the shelf.

Texas placed rookie outfielder Wyatt Langford on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a Grade 1 strain in his right oblique, a frustrating early-season setback for one of the team’s most productive bats. The 23-year-old slugger exited Tuesday night’s loss to the Cubs after his fourth plate appearance and will now sit out at least the next 10 days.

Langford had been off to a fast start, leading the team with four home runs and tied for the club lead in RBIs with six. He was hitting .244 with a .333 on-base percentage and a strong .561 slugging mark through 12 starts, one of the few constants in a lineup that’s already been through its fair share of shuffling.

Wyatt Langford's 4th HR of the season sails into the bleachers. pic.twitter.com/ErodlBGMgf
— MLB (@MLB) April 9, 2025

The injury bug couldn’t have worse timing. Langford’s trip to the IL came just one day after third baseman Josh Jung was reinstated following his own short absence. Langford, meanwhile, admitted the side discomfort actually started last week during the team’s off-day in Texas. It briefly subsided, and he pushed through the remainder of the homestand and Monday’s opener in Chicago before feeling the tweak again during his final at-bat on Tuesday.

With the Rangers scheduled to play eight games over the next 10 days, the club opted for caution, hoping early rest prevents a lingering issue. Langford pushed to avoid the IL, but the staff ultimately decided to shut things down for now and keep the long game in focus.

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Consequently, Texas has recalled outfielder Dustin Harris and utility man Ezequiel Duran from Triple-A Round Rock. Harris, who stole four bases in nine Triple-A games while hitting .184, had a brief stint with the Rangers last September, logging a homer in just six at-bats. Duran, just optioned on Tuesday when Jung was activated, gets a quick return despite going hitless in his first 11 at-bats this season. Infielder Jonathan Ornelas, 0-for-4 in three appearances, was optioned back to Round Rock to make room on the roster.

Langford’s absence will sting, but if all goes well, the hope is the rookie slugger will be back in the lineup before the end of the month.

“It’s frustrating any time you get hurt, really. I really want to be out there playing, especially when we’re playing really well.”

Rangers

Wyatt Langford

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.