Stats guru, shining light Sarah Langs receives ovation at All-MLB Show

LAS VEGAS -- If you’re a fan of Major League Baseball, you likely know her.

Perhaps from appearances on MLB Network, SNY or ESPN’s Baseball Tonight podcast. Or through her own Fielding Questions podcast. Maybe you’ve seen her name and photo flash on the videoboard at a Major League ballpark during a game.

You know her from her posts on X, where she provides every stat and figure behind your favorite player or team’s latest feat, along with historical context and other fun research nuggets you’d struggle to find elsewhere.

And if you’re really lucky, you know Sarah Langs in person.

With over 137,000 followers on X, Langs has quickly become a must-follow for any baseball fan. But her popularity extends beyond being a stats guru. Since emerging into the space in 2015, Langs has cemented herself as a beacon of light and positivity in the world of baseball.

Ahead of the 2022 postseason, Langs publicly announced she had been diagnosed with ALS at the age of 28. The baseball community quickly and wholeheartedly rallied behind her on social media and in ballparks across the league.

The weight of her significance to the community was put on full display on Thursday when Langs was recognized during the 2024 All-MLB Awards Show in Las Vegas. While the Chelsea Theater was full of MLB’s biggest stars as they were recognized for their achievements, there were only two standing ovations. The first for Langs, and the second for Hank Aaron’s wife, Billye.

Coming out of the break, “Baseball is the Best!” appeared on the big screen over the stage, a phrase that’s become synonymous with Langs. A five-minute tribute followed, narrated by Cleveland beat reporter and best friend of Langs, Mandy Bell. The video cut to a live shot of Langs in the crowd, bringing everyone in the room to their feet as they delivered the loudest applause of the event.

Langs, who has repeatedly stated she doesn’t enjoy spending time in the spotlight, waved to the crowd with a smile stretching across her face. The first words out of her mouth perfectly embodied the kind of person Langs is:

“Thank you for having me,” she said to MLB Network’s Lauren Shehadi.

Despite not seeking it, Langs has deservedly found herself in the spotlight countless times over the past few years. This January, the Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship was created by SABR -- The Society of American Baseball Research -- and awarded to three inaugural recipients. A week later, Langs was awarded with the Casey Stengel "You Could Look It Up" Award at the annual Baseball Writers' Association of America New York chapter dinner.

She’s been recognized by a number of Major League teams, including being honored on-field on Lou Gehrig Day by the Mets (2023) and Phillies (‘24).

Following a conversation with Shehadi in which Langs repeatedly thanked everyone for the recognition and said it was all “far too kind,” the crowd again rose to their feet and gave Langs a second loud round of applause. The screen switched over to a QR code to donate to Langs’ FistBump4ALS initiative through Project ALS, with a number of phones popping up from the crowd.

Shehadi recalled a conversation she had with Langs shortly after Langs announced her diagnosis.

“I want to leave people happier after I see them,” Langs told Shehadi at the time.

On Thursday and always, mission accomplished.