ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Wyatt Langford’s first big league homer was a memorable sprint around the bases for the promising rookie.
Langford hit an inside-the-park homer for Texas on Sunday, helping the Rangers put together a fast start in a 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Batting with Jonah Heim on first with two out in the first inning, Langford drove a 3-2 fastball from left-hander Andrew Abbott toward the gap in right-center.
The ball hit about halfway up the wall at the 374-foot mark, which briefly angles out at 45 degrees. It bounced past right fielder Jake Fraley toward the right field corner.
The 22-year-old Langford took off after seeing the ball get past Fraley. As he sped toward third base, third base coach Tony Beasley vigorously waved him home. He scored without a throw, giving the Rangers a 4-0 lead.
“It’s super cool,” Langford said. “I’ll definitely remember it forever.”
“I think coming out of the box he thought it was out,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “Then he turned it on. Once it caromed off the wall there, I said, ‘He’s going to have a home run here.’”
Langford was selected by Texas with the No. 4 pick in last year’s draft out of the University of Florida. He broke camp with the Rangers after hitting .365 with six homers in 21 games during spring training.
Going into the series finale against Cincinnati, he was hitting .245 with three doubles and a triple in 26 games.
“I feel really good now,” Langford said. “The guys in the clubhouse have done a really good time as well welcoming me.”
Langford became the fourth player for the Rangers to hit an insider-the-parker for his first big league homer. The previous one was hit by teammate Josh Smith in July 2022 against Oakland.
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