Wyatt Langford’s Strong Numbers Seem To Have Been Ignored

The 21 home runs by Langford were good enough to be tied for first in the SEC, along with being second with 61 runs scored. On top of it all, he has been the leader on a Gator team many people wrote off after the first half of the season.

By KYLE CURTIS

GatorBaitMedia.com

Growing up just 30 miles away from Gainesville, orange and blue DNA has always been in Wyatt Langford’s blood. Being a six-year varsity starter for Trenton High School’s baseball team earned him the No. 144 overall prospect by Perfect Game before taking his talents to Gainesville.

Did Wyatt Langford deserve better? Probably so. (UAA Photo)

Since his arrival in 2021, Langford’s freshman season allowed for him to take some time to settle in and establish his role on a star-studded Gator roster. Langford broke out of his shell in his sophomore campaign. This 2022 season will go down in the books for Langford as one of the best seasons in recent memory for a Gator.

After a sluggish start to the season for a Gators team that had high expectations, Langford has been a key part of the resurgence of this team. Going into the SEC tournament, he had a .363 average along with a staggering 21 home runs. He joins teammate Jud Fabian as the sixth Gator player ever to record 20 home runs in a season.

The 21 home runs by Langford were good enough to be tied for first in the SEC, along with being second with 61 runs scored. On top of it all, he has been the leader on a Gator team many people wrote off after the first half of the season.

Is it good enough though?

Langford was recognized, along with two other Florida Gators (B.T. Riopelle, First Team All-SEC; Brandon Neely, Freshman All-SEC Team), as an All-SEC player. With the kind of season Langford had put up many people recognized him as an SEC player of the year candidate.

Langford made the second team as an outfielder. In what may have been a snub in the eyes of many, the SEC home run leader was also top 10 in total bases (152), slugging (.716), RBIs (55) and batting average (.363).

While getting it done at the plate, Langford has also gotten it done in the field for Florida. Boasting a perfect fielding percentage on the season, Langford has had highlight-reel robberies in leftfield, saving runs left and right.

Along with SportsCenter-worthy catches, Langford is not afraid to show off his arm. He most recently saved a run in the opening round of the SEC tournament against South Carolina when he rifled a ball from left field and beat the runner home to hold the game at 1-0.

Nonetheless, this gives Langford and the Gators another chip on their shoulder heading into the postseason, although they ran into a home run binging Texas A&M on Thursday.

While many in the Gainesville baseball community felt his lack of accolades was a robbery, there is no lack of appreciation for his greatness this season. Langford, along with many others on the team refused to give up on the season when many others did.