This Rangers' Gold Glove nomination proves he's found a permanent position

Wyatt Langford began as catcher at the University of Florida and was newer to the outfield when the Rangers drafted him with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.

The organization never had any intention of playing one of their most valuable, young assets behind the plate as a professional. As a supremely gifted athlete, they knew they could reasonably transition Langford to a position that wasn't as physically taxing, so he could be an everyday player.

That position turned out to be left field, and in just his second full season, he proved the Rangers right with an unexpected Rawling's Gold Glove nomination for his play.

Wyatt Langford staked a claim on left field and was fantastic in 2025

During his 2024 rookie season, former manager Bruce Bochy experimented with Langford at both left and center field to see which one was the best fit for the speedy power-hitter.

Langford played a total of 104 games in left field in 2025 and consistently made spectacular plays on balls over his head at the wall, chasing down fly balls in the left-center field gap, and coming forward on sliding grabs.

He made it look almost routine, using his speed to make highlight reel plays on what seemed like a nightly basis while also saving extra bases by cutting off balls down the line and in the gap.

Langford's Gold Glove nomination came sooner than expected

Of all the Rangers that were nominated for a Gold Glove in 2025, including Corey Seager, Josh Smith, Jacob deGrom, Marcus Semien, and Adolis Garcia, Langford's is the most surprising, only because he adapted to the position and got the nod much more quickly than anticipated.

He played left field to near perfection committing just two errors and registering an impressive .990 fielding percentage for the season.

Langford will be competing with the two-time defending winner, Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians and Tyler Soderstrom of the Athletics for the prestigious award.

It would seem likely that, because the Rangers finished the season as the best fielding team in MLB, he could have a leg up on both of them.

The Gold Glove winners, sponsored by Rawlings, will be announced on Sunday, November 2nd, during a special broadcast of Baseball Tonight on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. CT.