Mixed news on Texas Rangers’ medical front

The news on Wyatt Langford and Josh Jung was good Monday, but the Texas Rangers are still waiting for Corey Seager’s back to improve.

ARLINGTON — Wyatt Langford was downright chipper Monday afternoon. If all goes well through Thursday, the Texas Rangers will let him take live batting practice Friday afternoon.

If all goes well, he wants to start a rehab assignment Saturday.

“I’m very ready,” he said.

The Rangers outfielder hasn’t played since April 21, when he felt something in his right forearm during an at-bat that turned out to be a strained flexor tendon. He thought he had conquered it a week later but felt the same discomfort April 30 in his first at-bat in game at the Rangers’ Arizona complex.

The team took a more deliberate approach to the second recovery, and Langford will likely need multiple games on rehab assignment before being cleared to return to the Rangers’ active roster.

“I think you have to monitor it, make sure his legs are also underneath him, so when he comes back, he’s ready to play,” manager Skip Schumaker said.

Schumaker shared good news on Josh Jung’s left shoulder. The third baseman has no structural damage after it started barking Saturday night after diving for a grounder, and Jung could be back in the lineup as soon as Tuesday.

Jung said that he was initially scared about the shoulder because it is one that had to be surgically repaired in 2022 after he tore the labrum just before spring training started. Unlike four years ago, Jung’s shoulder had a full range of motion Saturday night.

He went through his normal fielding routine Monday and hit off a tee without any issues.

“It’s the first time I felt anything in my shoulder since ’22, so I was a little scared,” Jung said.

The Rangers continue to wait for Corey Seager’s lower back to improve. The shortstop likely won’t resume full baseball activities until next week after his attempt at them Friday didn’t go well.

Schumaker isn’t calling Seager’s current state a setback. The back just wasn’t as ready as the Rangers thought it might be after he missed all nine games of the last road trip.

Another middle infielder, Josh Smith, could be back at the ballpark in a few days, Schumaker said, after dealing with viral meningitis. The Rangers aren’t sure how much recovery time Smith will need.

Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com