Langford looks to jolt Rangers lineup after 9-game absence

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers got some much-needed pop back into the lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Dodgers.

Outfielder Wyatt Langford was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 9 due to a mild oblique strain and missed Texas’ last nine games. He returned from a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Saturday and was activated on Sunday. He started in left field and batted fifth against the Dodgers and starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow.

The outfielder went 2-for-6 with one home run, one RBI, two walks, and two runs scored in two games with Double-A Frisco on his rehab assignment. He had plate appearances as Frisco’s DH on Thursday and played seven innings of left field on Friday.

Langford was one of the Rangers' best hitters when he landed on the injured list on April 9. He was slashing .244/.333/.561 while leading the club with four homers and was tied for the team lead with six RBIs at the time of his placement on the injured list.

He had reached base safely via a hit or walk in 11 of his 12 starts in 2025, collecting three multi-hit efforts.

“[Langford being] back obviously makes us a lot stronger,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “When you get a guy like that in there, it stretches the lineup out, gives you speed. He can do a lot of things to help you. It’s exciting to have them in the lineup. Now I gotta get creative here to get all these guys in. We're gonna go with what we think is the best lineup to help us win a ballgame.”

Ezequiel Duran, who has gone 0-for-14 with one RBI, one sacrifice fly, and four strikeouts in seven games, was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock. The utility man has appeared at third base (three games), first base (one game), shortstop (one game) and second base (one game) with the big league club this year.

Rookie outfielder Dustin Harris, who was recalled on April 9 when Langford landed on the injured list, will remain with the Rangers after playing his way into a longer look with the club. In seven MLB games this year, Harris has gone 6-for-17 with a home run and two doubles. He’s reached safely in all seven of his MLB starts going back to last season.

“He’s having good at-bats, he’s doing a good job running the bases and he’s seeing the ball well,” Bochy said of Harris. “He’s seeing the ball a little bit better than Leo [starting center fielder Leody Taveras] right now, so that’s why he’s out there.”