Surprise, Arizona— Jacob deGrom and Wyatt Langford took to the field for their initial spring training session with the Texas Rangers on Saturday. For deGrom, the outing proved to be a strong showing, as he retired all the batters he faced across two flawless innings against the Kansas City Royals. The right-handed pitcher, noted for his precise control, delivered 31 pitches, 21 of which were strikes, and recorded three strikeouts.
In the same game, Langford appeared as the designated hitter against a split squad of Royals players. He demonstrated his potential by getting a single in the first inning, before walking and eventually crossing home plate in the fourth inning thanks to Kevin Pillar’s sacrifice fly. Langford also had a ground out during the fifth.
DeGrom, now 36, has had limited on-field action for the Rangers since joining the team through a $185 million, five-year deal secured in free agency in December 2022. Having undergone Tommy John surgery, deGrom made an impactful, albeit brief, return last September, finishing with a 1.69 ERA over the course of three starts.
Meanwhile, Langford has had his own challenges, dealing with a Grade 1 left oblique strain. The 23-year-old outfielder shone during his rookie season, posting a .253 batting average alongside 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 19 steals. His potential was recognized early, with the Rangers selecting him as the No. 4 pick in the 2023 amateur draft.
