Rangers put rookie outfielder Wyatt Langford on the injured list with a right hamstring strain

Updated May. 6, 2024 8:32 p.m. ET

Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Texas Rangers rookie outfielder Wyatt Langford was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with a right hamstring strain.

The move was made before the Rangers opened a four-game series in Oakland and was retroactive to Sunday, the day after Langford exited a game at Kansas City. He appeared to slow up when running to first base on a soft grounder in the fifth inning Saturday.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Langford had dealt with the injury in the past, but “it just got to the point where he felt like he had to say something.”

“You hate to see it," Bochy said. “It’s always tough. Looking back, I wish I’d have known anything was there as far as the hamstring, which we didn’t know.”

Texas recalled infielder Jonathan Ornelas from Triple-A Round Rock, where in 24 starts at shortstop this season he has hit .278 with two homers and 11 RBIs. He made his big league debut last season, playing for the Rangers in eight games.

“He's doing a nice job down there,” Bochy said. “We’ve talked about him earlier as far as call-ups. He gives us versatility, with the ability to play anywhere in the infield, go play the outfield if needed. He can pinch-run, go in late in the ballgame, do some things for you. We needed another position player when Langford went down, so it just made sense to bring him up.”

The 22-year-old Langford, the fourth overall pick in the MLB amateur draft last summer, made the Rangers' roster out of spring training. He started 31 of the team's first 34 games, 19 as the DH and 12 in left field.

Langford is hitting .224 with one home run and 11 RBIs, with his homer being an inside-the-park sprint against Cincinnati at home on April 28. He ranks second among AL rookies with 26 hits and third by reaching base 38 times.

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