What Happened to Sarah Langs?

Sarah Langs, born on May 2, 1993, developed a profound love for baseball during her childhood in New York City, a passion fostered by her parents. After graduating from the University of Chicago in 2015, where she studied comparative human development and wrote for The Chicago Maroon, Langs embarked on her career in sports journalism. She began by writing research pieces for NBC Sports Chicago before joining ESPN as a researcher. Her talent for statistics and baseball history quickly became evident, leading to regular appearances on Buster Olney's Baseball Tonight podcast and on-air segments by 2017.

In 2019, Langs joined MLB.com, where she has since served as a reporter, researcher, producer, and columnist, solidifying her reputation as a preeminent baseball analyst. A significant career milestone occurred in July 2021 when she was part of Major League Baseball's first all-female broadcast crew, calling a YouTube Game of the Week. However, 2021 also brought a life-altering diagnosis: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive and terminal neurological disease. She had first noticed an unexplained limp in 2019 but kept her diagnosis private for over a year before publicly revealing her condition in October 2022.

Despite the physical challenges posed by ALS, which has led to her reliance on a wheelchair, Langs has remained steadfast in her commitment to her work and the baseball community. She has explicitly stated that quitting was 'never really a consideration' because baseball provides her strength and joy. Her intellect and ability to think remain unaffected by the disease. Langs has transformed her personal battle into a powerful platform for advocacy, launching the #FistBumps4ALS fundraising campaign in May 2023 for Project ALS, which has raised over $85,000.

Langs' courage and dedication have garnered widespread recognition and support from across the baseball world. On June 2, 2023, MLB recognized her on Lou Gehrig Day, and she has been honored by various teams, including the New York Mets with the Amazin' Mets Foundation Legacy Award. In 2024, she was a recipient of the Henry Chadwick Award for her significant contributions to baseball research. The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) also established the Sarah Langs Women in Baseball Analytics Scholarship, with applications for the 2026 scholarship opening in September 2025.

As of August 2026, Sarah Langs continues to be an active and inspiring presence. She was honored at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 2026, as part of the Yankees' HOPE Week, alongside other women from 'Her ALS Story,' further raising awareness and funds for ALS research. On Lou Gehrig Day in June 2026, she continued her work, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to the sport. Her resilience and positive spirit, encapsulated by her catchphrase 'Baseball is the best!', continue to motivate fans and colleagues alike, making her an enduring symbol of strength and advocacy within and beyond the game.