The First Career HR For Texas Rangers Rookie Wyatt Langford Stayed Inside The Park

Every MLB player daydreams about what his first home run in the show will be like. Texas Rangers rookie left fielder Wyatt Langford was probably no different.

On Sunday afternoon, Langford finally got a chance to experience his long-awaited dream. In just his sixth game, the 22-year-old from Trenton, FL, launched a home run at Globe Life Field against the Cincinnati Reds.

Apr 28, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter Wyatt Langford (36) rounds the bases on his  two-run inside the park home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

But it wasn’t your traditional home run.

It was the bottom of the first inning, and catcher Jonah Heim was on first base. Facing a full count with two outs, he got a four-seam fastball from Andrew Abbott that he drilled to right-centerfield. 

The ball looked like it had a chance to leave the park, but at the last second, it died. No matter, because right fielder Jake Fraley couldn’t get there in time for the out.

Once the ball hit the wall, it ricocheted past Fraley into no man’s land. By the time he got the ball to his cutoff man, it was too late. Langford had circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

With that hit, the youngster became just the fifth Ranger in franchise history to have his first home run be inside the park. 

And while most kids don't dream of their first big league homer coming in exactly that fashion, 552 other players in history have tallied their first career homers via the inside the park route since 1900. Mostly because a lot of ballparks were bigger back then.

But that’s not going to stop Langford from enjoying a core memory in his career.

"It’s super cool," Langford said. "I’ll definitely remember it forever."