Three rising stars for the Texas Rangers
With spring training underway, each team is filled with hope for a World Series title and fresh faces are ready to make a name for themselves in the majors. After winning their first World Series title in 2023, the Texas Rangers will look to make another postseason run in 2024.
Here are three rising stars looking to make an impact for the Rangers in 2024.
Evan Carter, outfielder
2023 MLB stats: .306/.413/.645, five home runs, 12 RBI and three stolen bases in 23 games played
Called up to the Texas Rangers in early September last season, outfielder Evan Carter became one of the sparkplugs that helped the team win their first World Series in franchise history.
Entering 2024 primed to be an everyday outfielder for the defending champs, the 21-year-old is a player to watch who could receive serious consideration for the American League Rookie of the Year award after what he showed in 2023.
After slashing .288/.413/.450 with 36 extra-base hits, 67 RBI and 23 stolen bases in 108 games played across three minor league levels, he was even better on the biggest stage.
If he wasn't making big plays in the outfield, he was giving opposing pitchers trouble at the plate.
He posted a .300/.417/.500 slash line with ten extra-base hits and six RBI in 17 postseason games during the Rangers playoff run.
Look for Carter to become a household name in 2024.
Josh Jung, third base
2023 MLB stats: .266/.315/.467, 23 home runs and 70 RBI in 122 games played
An All-Star in his rookie season in 2023, Rangers third baseman Josh Jung was having a big year before a fracture to his left thumb sustained in August put him on the shelf for about a month.
While he struggled after his return, he was able to get things figured out as he headed into the postseason and returned to his pre-injury form.
Slashing .308/.329/.538 with three home runs and eight RBI in 17 postseason games for the Rangers, he shined on MLB's biggest stage and looks like a cornerstone player the team can build around for the future.
Selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, the Texas-born 26-year-old who played his college ball at Texas Tech could very well end his career in his home state if he keeps up this production.
Wyatt Langford, outfielder
2023 MILB stats: .360/.480/.677, 10 home runs, 30 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 44 games played
Entering the 2023 college season as the best all-around hitter, outfielder Wyatt Langford fell to the Rangers with the fourth pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and in a short time in the minors proved he could end up being a steal for the defending champs.
Playing in only 44 games after being drafted, Langford put up eye-popping numbers with a .360 batting average, 1.157 OPS and 29 extra-base hits in 161 at-bats across four minor league levels.
Entering 2024, the 22-year-old has a real chance to make his MLB debut this season and could force the Rangers to make room for his bat if he continues to mash like he did in 2023.
Langford has superstar written all over him and by joining the Rangers lineup he could put up huge numbers to begin his career.
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