ARLINGTON — Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford is making notable progress in his recovery from a left hamstring strain, with the team evaluating whether he will return to the active roster this weekend or after the All-Star break. Langford participated in live batting practice ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field, having also run the bases the previous day and undergone scans that produced positive results.
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker praised Langford’s recent workouts but emphasized caution, noting that the player’s response after heavy exertion in the days ahead will be critical. “He was happy with how he felt, and the training staff was happy with how he felt and recovered, so we’ll see,” Schumaker said. “The last three days have involved heavy workloads, and today he finally did a live batting practice, which was the last thing we wanted to see in terms of live pitching.”
A specific return date for Langford has not been established. Schumaker stressed that the team will not expedite Langford’s activation if concerns arise during his recovery process. “If he’s healthy and ready to go, and there’s nothing holding him back, then he will be activated [before the break],” Schumaker said. “We’re not going to push this if there’s something in there or if we fear it could go in a different direction.”
The 24-year-old outfielder was performing strongly before the injury, holding a .317 batting average with a .371 on-base percentage and a .634 slugging percentage, alongside seven home runs. Initially, the hamstring strain was expected to keep him out beyond the All-Star break. Langford expressed optimism about returning before the break but acknowledged the need for prudence. “If not, it’s fine. We’ve just got to be smart about it," he said after batting practice.
In other injury updates, third baseman Josh Jung’s left knee showed improvement after a day of intense drills. Jung did not start Wednesday’s game but was listed as available. Schumaker noted Jung’s progress on the defensive side, including his ability to accelerate, decelerate, and plant effectively during ground balls. “He ran bases, he felt really good, so he’s available today,” Schumaker said.
Rangers left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery is advancing steadily in his rehabilitation from elbow surgery. Montgomery threw three scoreless innings in a recent outing for Triple-A Round Rock, marking his first appearance surpassing two innings and 40 pitches since returning to the minor leagues. Schumaker described Montgomery’s outing as promising, with effective curveballs and changeups and consistent velocity around 91 mph.
Through four starts this season, Montgomery has posted a 3.60 ERA with 10 strikeouts and no walks. The Rangers have yet to decide whether he will make another minor league start before the break. Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said the goal is for Montgomery to build up to at least 75 pitches before being activated. “We need to make sure Monty is in a good spot to help the team win at that point,” Young said. “The good version of Monty will definitely help us out; we just need to make sure he’s at that point before we activate him.”