{"id":581376,"date":"2026-02-19T17:11:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T17:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/581376\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T17:11:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T17:11:27","slug":"rangers-boss-says-this-trait-makes-wyatt-langford-future-mvp-candidate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/581376\/","title":{"rendered":"Rangers Boss Says This Trait Makes Wyatt Langford Future MVP Candidate"},"content":{"rendered":"

SURPRISE, Ariz. \u2014 Only five Texas Rangers have won an American League MVP award. The last one to do it was Josh Hamilton in 2010. <\/p>\n

Sixteen years later, there is plenty of buzz surrounding third-year outfielder Wyatt Langford<\/a>. That\u2019s happens when you make your Major League debut after playing 44 minor league games. He hasn\u2019t been an All-Star yet, but that could be coming. He was named a finalist for an AL Gold Glove in left field. MLB Network named him the second-best player at a position he doesn\u2019t really play \u2014 center field.<\/p>\n

His manager, Skip Schumaker, has said Langford<\/a> has the traits one is looking for in a future MVP. Could that happen this year? Well, Schumaker isn\u2019t making any promises. But he says Langford does all the right things, including one critical thing that can\u2019t be put in a number. <\/p>\n

The Trait That Makes Wyatt Langford a Future MVP\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford. | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Schumaker hasn\u2019t been shy about telling reporters that Langford<\/a> can be a face of the franchise kind of player. There\u2019s one trait he talked about on Wednesday that makes him not want to bet against him \u2014 and it has nothing to do with his talent. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s his care level.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe cares defensively,\u201d Schumaker said. \u201cHe cares about base running, he cares about hitting, he cares about his teammates, he cares about the community. He cares about the fan base, the organization. He’s everything you want in a young player.\u201d<\/p>\n

It means Langford is willing to put in the work and he\u2019s done so in spring training. He\u2019s starting to get the \u201cveteran treatment,\u201d as Schumaker has already said Langford won\u2019t play in the spring training opener on Friday \u2014 not as a precaution, but because they\u2019re handling the third-year outfielder\u2019s ramp-up a certain way. <\/p>\n

He cares about his numbers to a degree. He told reporters this week that he\u2019s not a \u201c.240 hitter.\u201d His career slash of .247\/.335\/.423 is a product of a young player who won\u2019t turn 25 until November. His power is there, with 38 home runs and 136 RBI over two seasons. He spent the offseason changing his exercise routine to avoid the oblique strains that put him on the IL three times last season. <\/p>\n

Schumaker sees role models in the clubhouse for Langford. Corey Seager is a two-time World Series MVP. Brandon Nimmo, who just joined the team, is a veteran who emerged as a leader I the New York Mets clubhouse. <\/p>\n

The idea isn\u2019t to force Langford to be something more. The idea is to give Langford what he needs to allow it to happen. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m not putting the pressure on him to be that \u2014 it can just happen organically,\u201d Schumaker said. \u201cNone of us are saying, \u2018You\u2019ve got to be this, that or the other.\u2019 Just let him play, let him do what he\u2019s been doing his whole career. I think it’s just going to organically happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

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