Texas Rangers Lineup For Spring Training Opener: Who's Playing, Who's Not?

The Texas Rangers lineup for their Cactus League spring training opener Friday is out and includes top prospect Wyatt Langford batting third and playing left field

SURPRISE, Ariz. — We don't have to wait long to see Wyatt Langford this spring.

The Texas Rangers open their Cactus League season at 1 p.m. Friday, and Langford is batting third in the lineup and playing left field.

The Rangers entire lineup against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium looks like this:

• Marcus Semien, 2B
• Evan Carter, RF
• Wyatt Langford, LF
• Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
• Leody Taveras, CF
• Sam Huff, C
• Matt Duffy, 3B
• Ezequiel Duran, DH
• Josh Smith, SS
• Dane  Dunning, P

Dane Dunning will start but will only throw one inning. The rest of the pitchers are likely to only pitch an inning each, except for Cody Bradford, who could throw two innings, according to manager Bruce Bochy. Rangers' top pitching prospect, Jack Leiter, is scheduled to pitch in the opener.

Nathan Eovaldi is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Royals at Surprise Stadium, and Andrew Heaney is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the San Francisco Giants. The pitchers for the rest of those games have not been announced.

Langford, the No. 4 overall pick in July's MLB draft, is starting his first game with the Rangers' big-league club, even if it's spring training. 

"I'm very excited to get back on the field," Langford said. "It's been one of the longer breaks I've had in my baseball career."

Langford, who was playing with the Florida Gators into June, played 44 gamers in the minors after being drafted. His last game was with Triple-A Round Rock on Sept. 27.

First lineup of the spring! #TexasRangers pic.twitter.com/EjC2w8UVrB

— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) February 23, 2024

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