SURPRISE, Ariz. -- How does a player avoid the sophomore slump?
“I have no idea,” said Rangers second-year outfielder Wyatt Langford. “I guess you just play good. I don't know.
“I feel really good going into it. So I'm excited. High expectations are good. Makes you play better. Something to play for.”
On the national stage, Langford didn't exactly stand out. He struggled early to a .222/.288/.286 slash line with just one home run -- an inside-the-parker -- at the end of May, and he quickly fell out of the public consciousness. He ultimately finished seventh in American League Rookie of the Year voting.
But Langford’s finish was much better than many outside of the organization realized. From June 1 through the end of the season -- a span of 100 games -- Langford slashed .263/.337/.458 with 15 home runs. He was named the AL Player of the Month in September, when he slashed .300/.386/.610.
The 23-year-old is now tasked with repeating the best part of his season across a full 162.
“You just go about your business like you normally do,” manager Bruce Bochy said about avoiding a sophomore slump. “It's not like I know the stats on the sophomore slump, how many really have a slump like that, you know?
"Sure, you have a few big names that don't have quite the same year, so a lot of attention gets called on that. But I'm sure he's not even thinking about that.”
At this time last year, Langford was less than a year removed from the 2023 College World Series and a legendary junior season (1.282 OPS in 64 games) at the University of Florida. He came into spring camp with the hopes of making the Opening Day roster after being selected No. 4 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft and completing a speed run through the Rangers’ farm system.
“I wouldn't say I felt pressure, but I definitely was coming in with the goal of making the team and performing well enough to make the team,” Langford said. “That was kind of what I was going after.
"It's definitely a different feeling vs. now, getting prepared for the season. Like, ‘All right, this is my season.’ Last year, obviously I needed to perform well here to make the team.”
Langford is a talented hitter; there’s no doubt about that. You don’t become a top-five pick without being one. The Rangers knew he was special when they drafted him.
“First of all, his strength,” Bochy said. “He's a very, very strong person that has tremendous bat speed. But even more, I think, work ethic -- I think you start with that. Just overall makeup, his desire to get better and the work that he's put in. He went to Florida, was a bullpen catcher basically, and just made himself into the player he is because of his determination. So that's how guys get as good as he is.”
All that being said, it takes more than talent and hard work to succeed in the big leagues. There are so many things that go into a great or even average big league season.
Everything, in theory, will be easier for Langford in 2025. He knows all the players and big league staffers. He knows the opposing pitchers and ballparks. He’s used to the schedule. Even the travel in the regular season is second nature at this point.
Everything is pointing up for Langford to have an explosive sophomore season.
“He's going to have so much experience to draw from,” Bochy said. “The unknown factor's gone. I'm sure, coming into Spring Training last year, the nerves were there with trying to make the team, the pressure was there. That's not there anymore.
"He can focus on getting ready for the season and not worry about making the club. He can just go about his business like a veteran. That makes it a lot easier, trust me, especially on the young player that gets the attention that he does. It's going to be a lot more relaxing for him.”