Twins Daily Draft Preview: Wyatt Langford

[Jamie Cameron]

Wyatt Langford is a consensus top 3 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. It remains likely that Langford will be off the board by the time the Twins draft at fifth overall; however, recent rumblings suggest surprises in store in the top four picks, including the Pirates exploring options outside Dylan Crews with the first overall pick. What does Langford bring to the table? How might he be fit for the Minnesota Twins?

Image courtesy of Dylan Widger, USA Today Sports

Over the next two weeks, we will provide you with profiles of 10 players the Twins could take with the 5th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.

Who is He?
Wyatt Langford is a right-handed hitting outfielder from the University of Florida who just finished playing in the College World Series at the time of writing. 

The 21-year-old is ranked number two or number three overall on every board that serves as an input for the Consensus Board, which ranks him as the number two overall player in a loaded class, and a loaded demographic of college hitters. Jeremy has posited that Langford is the number two player on the Twins board, behind Crews, and I agree. If he's available at five, the Twins will likely sprint to the podium to draft him. 

Why the Twins Will Draft Him
Langford is a complete player, already possessing a plus-hit tool and plus-power. 

There's plenty to like in Langford's swing, with a simple and direct swing that produces effortless power to all fields. After barely playing his freshman year, Langford exploded onto the scene as a sophomore, slugging .719 with 26 home runs in 66 games in 2022. Langford has managed similar production in 2023, a .365/.495/.763 line with 19 home runs, 19 K%, and 24 BB%. Langford's underlying number back up this gaudy production. His Contact% is north of 80%, and his 90th percentile exit velocity of 110.6 mph, which is higher than Dylan Crews. 

Defensively, Langford has plus speed. He's at least an average defender with an average arm. He'll likely get a chance to prove he can play in center field to start his professional career, although he may eventually move to right field. 

Langford is among an incredibly strong draft class's most polished, productive, tooled-up players.

Why the Twins Won’t Draft Him
The Twins would only pass on Langford if Crews or Skenes were available when they picked. Langford will likely be off the board by the time the Twins pick, possibly to Detroit at #3 overall. There are few holes to pick in his game except a tendency to expand the outer half of the plate against breaking balls and some improvements to make on outfield routes and jumps. The fifth pick of the 2023 Draft is the floor for Wyatt Langford.

What do you think of Wyatt Langford as a prospect? How would you feel about him being the Twins' pick at #5 overall? Join the discussion in the comments.

 

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[Cory Engelhardt]

My fingers have been crossed for him to be a twin for some time now. I actually do t have feeling in those fingers anymore. Is that a problem? Does anyone know a medical professional? How am I still typing? :)

Anyway, I hope he is there at 5 :)

[weitz41]

I'm hoping he makes it to the Twins. Seems like a perfect fit from what the past drafts seem to show and real upside, After him it seems like a few players in the HS upside area, That we haven't seen this FO take the plunge for. I'm hoping picks 1-4 make it ez for the Twins to take him at #5.

[SteveLV]

Seems extremely unlikely he last until 5.  If there, no-brainer, nothing else to discuss.

[jimbo92107]

Twins won't get him. He looks too much like Mike Trout. Quick, powerful swing. Thighs like a power lifter. The guy is all muscle.

[Fatbat]

It will take 4 really dumb decisions to have him available to pick at 5.

[Brandon27]

Twins will end up with dollander from Tennessee 

[jishfish]

I think the only path I see to him getting to the Twins is:

1. Clark - Cuts an under-slot deal.
2. Crews - He won't get past here.
3. Skenes - Haven't seen any connection between these two, but maybe they just don't expect him to be available at 3 and once he is and they're on the clock they can't pass it up.
4. Jenkins

If Langford gets past Detroit at 3, I could see the Twins trying to get Langford past Texas with their bonus pool difference. I have to imagine he's either 1 or 2 on the Twins board.

[Otaknam]

A polished college player from the top five is my first choice and hopefully one of them will be available. 

[terrydactyls]

For what it's worth, Keith Law released his latest mock draft.  He has the Twins selecting Jacob Gonzales, a shortstop from the University of Mississippi who he says is a "very solid player for what he is, but with limited potential for more".  That sounds like a waste of a #5 draft pick.

[2wins87]

I've been tracking mock drafts over the last month or two and Langford lasts to the Twins in about 20%.  This feels about right for the odds; I might have put it a little lower on first thought, but the draft usually is a lot less predictable than it feels in the leadup.

Not sure how many times they can get lucky in the draft process in two years, but if he's there I'm sure they'll be ecstatic and I will be too.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't want Gonzales. 

[2wins87]

16 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

For what it's worth, Keith Law released his latest mock draft.  He has the Twins selecting Jacob Gonzales, a shortstop from the University of Mississippi who he says is a "very solid player for what he is, but with limited potential for more".  That sounds like a waste of a #5 draft pick.

Reading Law's writeup, specifically on his not using his lower half to generate power, I wonder if the thought process might be them thinking they know how to add power specifically to a player like Gonzalez, in the same way they did with Spencer Steer, where the adjustments included adding a leg kick which unlocked the power.

I trust the consensus for a large part, but I think it's foolish to believe that I have any clue on a proper order.  I feel very confident that the consensus top 5 will not be the 5 best players taken in the draft.  It'll probably be very unlikely that even the top 3 players from the draft come from that group. 

I also feel very confident that there will be a lot of teeth gnashing from fans who have spent about 1 minute researching a couple players for whichever team breaks with consensus.

If it is Gonzalez, I will be disappointed in the moment.  And if they decide to break with consensus and they are wrong, they will deserve all the blame.  But I won't pretend that I know better, or even that the public industry definitely knows better.

[2wins87]

38 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

For what it's worth, Keith Law released his latest mock draft.  He has the Twins selecting Jacob Gonzales, a shortstop from the University of Mississippi who he says is a "very solid player for what he is, but with limited potential for more".  That sounds like a waste of a #5 draft pick.

Also, while on the topic, I find it interesting that Law believes they would take Clark if available but not necessarily Jenkins.

Most of the assumptions around here have been that they would prefer Jenkins due to his 80 grade makeup, but it seems that is not true.

[jishfish]

Just now, 2wins87 said:

Also, while on the topic, I find it interesting that Law believes they would take Clark if available but not necessarily Jenkins.

Most of the assumptions around here have been that they would prefer Jenkins due to his 80 grade makeup, but it seems that is not true.

I was under the same impression as well. I personally prefer Clark, so that would be a welcomed surprise, but had also been assuming the Twins would prefer Jenkins over Clark.

This Front Office is also so tight-lipped in all their decision-making, I wouldn't be shocked if we're all just speculating for nothing and they do end up just taking whichever of the 5 falls to them.

[DocBauer]

There's a couple different guys I'd still be happy with, but for me it's Clark or Langford all the way. Not only 2 of the consensus top 5 talents available, but a seeming fit for the system as a whole as well.

Can definitely see Langford slipping simply by various rumors, conjectures, and past draft surprises.

[Cory Engelhardt]

15 hours ago, Brandon27 said:

Twins will end up with dollander from Tennessee 

If you were to tell me they were getting him at 34, I'd be ecstatic. At 5, not so much.

[Nashvilletwin]

7 hours ago, 2wins87 said:

And if they decide to break with consensus and they are wrong, they will deserve all the blame.

Doesn’t matter.  This FO is epic at deflecting blame. 

[Nashvilletwin]

4 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

If you were to tell me they were getting him at 34, I'd be ecstatic. At 5, not so much.

Actually, it’s not likely, but not impossible. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 hour ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Actually, it’s not likely, but not impossible. 

If the twins love him, and have a plan to help regain his slider, that would excite me. I just don’t know that I see the value that high in this specific draft

[jimbo92107]

11 hours ago, 2wins87 said:

Reading Law's writeup, specifically on his not using his lower half to generate power, I wonder if the thought process might be them thinking they know how to add power specifically to a player like Gonzalez, in the same way they did with Spencer Steer, where the adjustments included adding a leg kick which unlocked the power.

I trust the consensus for a large part, but I think it's foolish to believe that I have any clue on a proper order.  I feel very confident that the consensus top 5 will not be the 5 best players taken in the draft.  It'll probably be very unlikely that even the top 3 players from the draft come from that group. 

I also feel very confident that there will be a lot of teeth gnashing from fans who have spent about 1 minute researching a couple players for whichever team breaks with consensus.

If it is Gonzalez, I will be disappointed in the moment.  And if they decide to break with consensus and they are wrong, they will deserve all the blame.  But I won't pretend that I know better, or even that the public industry definitely knows better.

I shoot from the hip because Shakira said hips don't lie. However, sometimes they guess wrong.

[AlwaysinModeration]

On 6/29/2023 at 6:49 PM, Nashvilletwin said:

Actually, it’s not likely, but not impossible. 

The scenario where they get Dollander at 34 involves saving a LOT of money from the first pick…which might happen if it’s Wilson or González?

[Fatbat]

Is it possible that a team would try to develop Clarke as a two way player?