Langford, Leiter Among 10 Rangers Prospects Joining Big League Camp

The Texas Rangers invited 10 prospects to Major League spring training camp on Wednesday, bringing the number of players expected in Surprise, Ariz., to 61.

Wyatt Langford, last year’s first-round pick who reached Triple-A Round Rock last season, and 2021 first-round pick Jack Leiter were among the prospects invited.

Langford is currently Texas’ 2nd-best prospect, as well as the 13th-best prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. Evan Carter is rated ahead of Langford, but he's almost a lock to start in left field for the Rangers and will be removed from "prospect" rankings soon.

Langford slashed .360/.480/.677/1.157 with 10 home runs, 17 doubles, 30 RBI, 36 walks, and 12 stolen bases in 44 minor-league games.

Leiter’s progress stalled early in 2023, but after a stint on the Rangers’ development list, he moved up to Triple-A after more than a season with Double-A Frisco. He finished 2-6 with a 5.19 ERA in 2023, with 114 strikeouts. He was previously a Top 100 prospect in baseball.

The Rangers’ Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year, first baseman Abimelec Ortiz, also gained an invite. He batted .294/.371/.619/.990 with 33 home runs, 20 doubles, 101 RBI, and 49 walks in 109 games with Class-A Down East and High-A Hickory. He was also named the South Atlantic League Player of the Year.

Pitcher Emiliano Teodo earned an invite as he was named the Arizona Fall League’s Reliever of the Year after striking out 48.7% of the hitters he faced in 11 shutout innings of relief. With High-A Hickory last season, he was 5-3 with a 4.52 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 18 games, including 14 starts.

Two invitees were Organizational All-Stars in 2023. Infielder Davis Wendzel batted .236/.361/.477/.838 and set career highs with 30 home runs, 19 doubles, and 74 RBI for Round Rock. Catcher Liam Hicks slashed .275/.414/.373/.787 with four home runs, 15 doubles, and 45 RBI with Frisco and Hickory.

The remaining invitations were extended to first baseman Blaine Crim, pitcher Daniel Robert, pitcher Grant Wolfram, and outfielder Aaron Zavala.

Pitchers and catchers report to the team’s facility in Surprise on Feb. 14 and position players report by Feb. 19.