When is Wyatt Langford Coming Back? Fantasy Baseball Injury Return Update

Texas Rangers rookie outfielder Wyatt Langford was the talk of baseball during spring training when he exploded for six home runs, four doubles, and a 1.137 OPS across 21 games, nabbing an Opening Day roster spot less than a year after being drafted with the fourth overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft.

Even after the white-hot spring, there was always the chance Langford would hit the rookie wall once the bright lights ignited. Indeed, the 22-year-old hit just .224 with only one homer and one steal alongside a .588 OPS across his first 129 plate appearances in the big leagues before a hamstring injury sent him to the 10-day injured list.

Despite the slow start, fantasy managers (especially dynasty managers) are eager to find out what his current status looks like and what they can expect upon his return. Let's find out!

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Wyatt Langford Injury Update for Fantasy Baseball

Jeff Wilson of Rangers Today reported on Tuesday that Langford is running at 90 percent effort and has reported no issues with his injured hamstring. Another report on Wednesday from Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News says Langford ran the arc of the infield on Wednesday afternoon.

Evan Carter is having an MRI on his back today. No word yet on the results. Fellow rookie Wyatt Langford said he ran at 90 percent effort today with no issues with his hamstring.

— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilsonTXR) May 13, 2024

Wyatt Langford is running the arc of the infield & Josh Jung is playing catch. Medical report

— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) May 15, 2024

Obviously, both reports are positive developments as it appears Langford could be nearing a rehab assignment. The youngster wasn't able to come off the IL when first eligible and will likely need a couple games of minor league rehab before returning to the Rangers lineup.

Perhaps some time off is exactly what Langford needed to get a mental reset before a potential bounce back at the plate.

Wyatt Langford Fantasy Baseball Outlook

As hyped as his spring was, it's worth noting that Langford played all of 44 minor league games and only 17 above the High-A level. The tools are explosive and he projects as a superstar and a dynasty league gem to be sure.

At the same time, redraft managers will need to exercise more caution. What if Langford can't get it together at the plate when he returns? If that's the case, additional minor league seasoning is likely in the cards -- even with Carter's status to be determined -- as the Rangers would surely rather have Langford get figured out at Triple-A rather than have his confidence torn apart at the game's highest level.

The hype is real but we also need to consider the reality that this kid essentially went from college straight to the big leagues. Dynasty managers will certainly hold tight but redraft managers don't have the same long-term luxury at their disposal.

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