The 2023 college baseball season is just around the corner, and Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford is already the No. 1 overall pick from MLB.com’s Draft Expert Jonathan Mayo.<\/p>\n
Langford is ranked No. 3 on MLB.com’s list of prospects, but Mayo thinks he should go ahead of LSU outfielder Dylan Cruz and Tennessee right-hander Chase Drunder. With the entire season played out, scouts can compare Crewe and Langford to competitors of the same level. Mayo believes Langford’s defense will play a role in making him his top pick.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Langford will show people he can play in center field. He’s never played before. He runs a little better than Crewe. I think he’s a little more athletic… said Mayo. “I don’t think there is a big gap between the two and I think there will be some lively conversations, but I’m going to listen to the two different scouts I spoke to when putting together the list and taking Langford.”<\/p>\n
A move to center field is on track, and Langford has been able to prove he’s a legitimate 5-Tool player this year, according to fall reports. We all know he can hit for power after his 26-home run season in 2022. He has enough patience to achieve a decent batting average (.355) and on-base percentage (.447).<\/p>\n
Langford’s big change this year is that he’s going to be the man every pitcher plans to be. It’s been a year since we came back and should be considered. Still, Langford is central to the lineup and has every chance of proving its prowess in 2023.<\/p>\n
He doesn’t have to break the school’s single-season home run record to be No. 1, but Langford can’t falter in what needs to be a recovery year for the Gators. He should lead the charge behind a weekend rotation featuring Brandon Sproat and Hurston Waldrep, two of his top picks in the draft.<\/p>\n