Wyatt Langford helps coach Florida Hardballers youth baseball players in Newberry

NEWBERRY, Fla. (WCJB) - Gator great and MLB star Wyatt Langford was back in Newberry on Saturday, lending a hand to coach a baseball camp with the Hardballers.

Dozens of kids, ages 9 to 14, gathered at Champions Park to learn from one of the best and sharpen their baseball skills.

The Hardballers is a nationally ranked developmental program, and it’s played a key role in helping over 25 players get drafted into the MLB.

Langford himself was one of those players and the Trenton native has made a name for himself.

He starred for the University of Florida Gators, where he racked up 47 home runs, 6 triples, 120 RBIs, and 16 steals. that performance earned him the fourth overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft.

Reflecting on his journey, here’s how Langford said the program helped him get to where he is today.

“I started playing with the Hardballers when I was 13, and then I played with them all throughout high school, 13 to 18, so that’s five years,” said Langford. “I mean they were very influential in my development, coming up and really getting to Florida, [John Colacci and Kevin Maris] were really the main reason I was able to get there, talking to Coach O’Sullivan and all the coaches there so very thankful for all they did for me. Help John out with the Hardballers trying to grow it, and being able to give back to the community, here in Newberry, being from Trenton really close, I mean all the guys from Gainesville, being from a small town, I like to give back to those types of people.”

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