Wendzel’s call-up ties Baylor record with 5 Bears in the big leagues

Something special happened in April when the Texas Rangers hosted the Oakland Athletics. Former Baylor standout Davis Wendzel had just been called up, joining a Baylor teammate, Cody Bradford, on the Rangers. In the opposite dugout, another of their former teammates, Shea Langeliers, was preparing to play for the Athletics. This is believed to be the first time three Baylor alums were all on active rosters in the same game.

That series highlighted just how special of a time this is for Baylor baseball fans, as five Bears have played in the big leagues this year, tying the single year high-water mark for Baylor alums.

From Baylor’s all-time big league home run leader to rising stars, you’ve got a chance to see one of these former Bears at a major league park near you this summer:

— Max Muncy, with 189 homers in nine seasons, is far-and-away the most prolific slugger Baylor has ever sent to the big leagues. This year, the Dodgers star has battled a strained oblique, but prior to his injury, the former World Series champion was among the National League leaders in home runs.

— Shea Langeliers broke out last year as the Oakland Athletics’ starting catcher, hitting 22 homers and leading the AL by throwing out 31% of would-be base stealers. This year, the Baylor All-American is on pace for another fine season, highlighted by a three-home-run game against the Rangers in April.

— Davis Wendzel, the Big 12 Player of the Year at Baylor in 2019, was called up to the Rangers on April 8 and made his debut against Oakland (where his former Baylor teammate, Langeliers, homered three times). He hit his first career home run against the Reds April 27 and has played in 19 games so far.

— Cody Bradford won his first three games and compiled a 1.40 ERA to begin the year — among the best starts in all of baseball. Unfortunately, the breakout pitcher for the reigning World Series champs has since dealt with a rib stress fracture. Still, the 2018 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year at Baylor made it clear he is ready to take the next step in his career as a rotation anchor for the Rangers when he’s healthy.

— Nick Loftin, the Kansas City Royals’ first-round draft pick in 2020, made his big league debut last September and memorably went 2-for-3 with an RBI in a win over the Red Sox. This year, the versatile player has played five different positions for the Royals (including pitcher!) and has been a mainstay off the bench.

Langeliers, Wendzel, Bradford and Loftin were all teammates with the Bears in 2018 and ’19, looking up to Max Muncy as a role model. Now, they’re all making us proud together at the next level.

Sic ’em, Big League Bears!