Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford selected American League Player and Rookie of the Month for September
Langford becomes the first player in club history to win both awards in the same month
Arlington, Texas — Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford has been named the American League Player and Rookie of the Month for September, it was announced this morning on MLB Network. It is the 11th instance in the history of the awards for a player to claim both honors in the same month, including the first such instance by a Ranger (list below).
This marks the first time that a Ranger has been recognized as the A.L. Player of the Month since Shin-Soo Choo in September 2015. Langford is the 14th player (26th instance) in club history to claim the league’s monthly award since its inception in 1974. It is the 14th instance of a Ranger winning the A.L.'s monthly rookie award since it was first introduced in 2001. Langford is just the 3rd player in Rangers history to earn the honor multiple times, joining Nomar Mazara in 2016 (April/May) and Josh Jung in 2023 (April/May). He is the second Ranger to claim the award in September (also Neftalí Feliz in 2010).
Langford, who was also unanimously selected as the Rangers Player of the Month for September, batted .300/.386/.610/.996 (30-100) and swatted an American League-leading 8 home runs last month. He ranked highly among A.L. hitters in September in slugging percentage (2nd), RBI (T5th), and doubles (T5th), and his 25 runs scored were 2nd in MLB to only Los Angeles-NL’s Shohei Ohtani (27).
The outfielder’s 8 longballs in September were tied for 4th most by a Rangers rookie in club annals: 11-Adolis García (May 2021), 10-Dave Hostetler (June 1982), 9-Pete Incaviglia (Sept. 1986). He is the first player – let alone rookie – in Rangers history with 25+ runs, 8+ home runs, 20+ RBI, and 7+ stolen bases in a single month, as well as the 4th rookie in the Modern Era (beg. 1901) to reach those totals in a single month, joining Arizona’s Corbin Carroll (June 2023), Los Angeles-AL’s Mike Trout (July 2012), and Boston’s Nomar Garciaparra (August 1997).
On September 17 vs. Toronto, Langford went 3-for-4 with one home run, 2 doubles, and 2 walks, becoming the 3rd rookie in Rangers history to record multiple 3-XBH games in a season and first since David Murphy in 2007 (also 2). Langford reached base 5 times in the contest, marking the most times aboard in a single game by a Rangers rookie since 2019.
Langford finished his rookie campaign with a .253/.325/.415/.740 (126-499) slash line, 16 home runs, 25 doubles, 74 RBI, and 19 stolen bases in 134 games. He is the second player (only rookie) in MLB history to produce a walk-off grand slam (Sept. 3 vs. New York-AL), cycle (June 30 at Baltimore), and inside-the-park home run (April 28 vs. Cincinnati) in the same season, along with Brooklyn’s Jackie Robinson in 1948.
PLAYERS TO WIN PLAYER AND ROOKIE OF THE MONTH AWARDS IN SAME MONTH
Year Player Month Year Player Month
2007 Ryan Braun (MIL) July 2016 Gary Sánchez (NYY) Aug.
2010 Buster Posey (SF) July 2017 Aaron Judge (NYY) June
2012 Mike Trout (LAA) July 2017 Aaron Judge (NYY) Sept.
2013 Yasiel Puig (LAD) June 2019 Aristides Aquino (CIN) Aug.
2014 José Abreu (CWS) April 2024 Wyatt Langford (TEX) Sept.
2014 José Abreu (CWS) July