Josh Jung Injury News & Updates

Jung went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Friday's 8-5 win over the Mariners.

Other than an elevated strikeout rate --- seven strikeouts in 18 at-bats -- Jung hasn't missed a beat after returning from a thumb injury that cost him six weeks. The rookie third baseman has hit safely in all four games since returning earlier this week, going 7-for-18 with a double, a home run, three RBI and four runs scored.

Jung went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and three total runs scored in Wednesday's victory over the Red Sox.

After missing six weeks with a fractured thumb, Jung is now 5-for-14 (.357) in three games since returning to the Rangers' lineup. While the injury may have hampered his Rookie of the Year odds, Jung's still had a breakout campaign, slashing .277/.324/.492 with 23 homers, 73 runs scored and 70 RBI through 475 plate appearances.

Jung started at third base and went 1-for-4 in Monday's 4-2 loss to Boston.

Jung was activated from the injured list, where he spent six weeks due to a thumb injury. There was no easing him back into the lineup as a designated hitter, as the rookie took his usual position at the hot corner.

Jung (thumb) will be activated from the injured list Monday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung went through workouts Monday afternoon, and manager Bruce Bochy announced afterward that he would return and hit fifth the same night. Another update on Jung's status will be posted when the roster move is made official.

Jung (fractured left thumb) will rejoin the Rangers in Arlington on Monday after an encouraging weekend of rehab, the Dallas Morning News reports. "He had a really good day yesterday, a really good day," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. "A lot of improvement from the day before as far as comfort, seeing the ball, hard contact."

Jung, who rehabbed at the Rangers' complex in Arizona this weekend, faced live pitching and played three innings on Saturday. He'll fly back to Texas on Sunday, rejoin the club on Monday and be further evaluated. Jung met with Arizona-based hand specialist Dr. Don Sheridan on Thursday and was given full clearance to return to baseball activities. He could still be activated for the Rangers' series against the Red Sox, which starts Monday.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that Jung (thumb) could be activated from the injured list ahead of Monday's series opener against the Red Sox, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

There was some hope that Jung would be ready to return for the Rangers' three-game weekend series in Cleveland, but he still has a couple of small hurdles to clear in his recovery from Aug. 9 surgery to repair a fracture in his left thumb. Josh Smith and Jonathan Ornelas have been sharing time at third base for Texas over the last week.

Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Jung (thumb) could return as early as next week's series against Cleveland beginning next Friday, MLB.com reports.

Bochy witnessed Jung taking batting practice earlier this week and was impressed. "I saw him in the cage, swinging a bat, and I went, 'Whoa,'" Bochy said prior to Friday's game. "We all were shocked -- our trainer, our hitting guys." If Jung returns next Friday, that would be beat the original six-week timeline.

Jung (thumb) is hoping to take dry swings before the end of this week, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung has been taking one-handed swings in the batting cage and on Monday fielded some grounders. He's at least a couple weeks away from game action and is expected to need some rehab at-bats, so Jung isn't going to have much runway for regular season contests. He's been out since early August with a left thumb fracture.

Texas manager Bruce Bochy said Jung (thumb) is two to three weeks away from returning to game action, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung, who had a plate and pins installed in his left thumb in early August, has started taking one-handed swings in the batting cage. Bochy said Jung will require rehab at-bats, which could push out his return to the final week of the regular season.

Jung underwent surgery Wednesday to repair the fracture in his left thumb, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Hand specialist Dr. Don Sheridan inserted a plate and screws into the thumb to stabilize the fracture, which Jung sustained while trying to field a line drive this past Sunday against the Marlins. The power-hitting 25-year-old third baseman is expected to miss around six weeks, but the hope is that he can return to the Rangers' active roster before the end of the 2023 regular season.

Jung will have surgery to stabilize his fractured left thumb and is expected to miss six weeks, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The third baseman will likely go under the knife within the next few days in an effort to get him back for the last week or so of the regular season. A more concrete timeline for Jung's return should surface after the procedure takes place. Ezequiel Duran, Josh Smith and Jonathan Ornelas could all see opportunities at the hot corner during Jung's absence.

Jung was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with a left thumb fracture.

Jung was destined for the injured list when manager Bruce Bochy announced Sunday that the third baseman broke his thumb, and the Rangers made the move official one day later. A timeline for Jung's recovery remains undefined, but he will presumably miss several weeks. Several players could man the hot corner until Jung is ready to return, and Ezequiel Duran will get the first chance to do so Monday night.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Jung was diagnosed with a fractured thumb Sunday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

The 25-year-old suffered the injury during the sixth inning of Sunday's win over the Marlins while attempting to field a line drive. Jung doesn't have an official timeline for his return, but he's likely looking at a multi-week absence, at least. Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith are the probable replacement at third base for Texas.

Jung was removed from Sunday's game against the Marlins with an left thumb contusion, Kennedi Landry of MLB.comreports.

Jung appeared to suffer an injury while fielding a line drive during the sixth inning and was replaced in the field for the following frame. The 25-year-old should be considered day-to-day heading into Monday's series opener at Oakland.

Jung went 2-for-3 with a walk, a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 9-8 come-from-behind win over Miami.

Jung hit the second of two two-run blasts in the fifth inning, giving the Rangers a lead they would not relinquish after falling behind 5-0. It was the 22nd home run for the rookie third baseman, who has multiple hits in three of the last four games.

Jung went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, an additional RBI and a double in Wednesday's 11-1 victory versus the White Sox.

Jung was one of four Rangers with multiple RBI in the rout, with two of the runs he plated coming on a 409-foot shot to center field in the fifth inning. The third baseman is tied with Francisco Alvarez and Corbin Carroll for the MLB rookie lead with 21 homers on the season, and he tops all first-year players with 64 RBI. Jung has complemented those numbers with a .272/.322/.487 slash line, 66 runs and rookie-leading 24 doubles to make his case among a strong field for AL Rookie of the Year honors.

Jung went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored in Friday's 7-1 loss to San Diego.

Jung was the lone highlight for the Rangers, whose bats couldn't do much against starter Joe Musgrove. Jung, who led off the ninth inning with a single, crossed the plate for Texas' lone run after a bases-loaded walk. The rookie third baseman has hit safely in five of the last six games with a home run and three doubles.

Jung went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in a loss to the Astros on Monday.

Jung helped Texas get off to a fast start, swatting a two-run shot to left field in the first inning. It was his 20th long ball of the campaign, most among AL rookies and second among all first-year players behind only Corbin Carroll. Jung's standout campaign also includes a .275/.326/.490 slash line, 61 RBI and 64 runs, though he also leads the majors with 122 strikeouts.

Jung went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Guardians

Jung, who was 1-for-his-last-12 in the series, delivered the go-ahead runs with a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning. His was the third consecutive run-producing hit during Texas' four-run eighth, as the team went 4-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The All Star third baseman is up to 58 RBI for the season, which leads all rookies.

Jung went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Saturday's 8-3 loss to Washington.

Jung went yard in the fourth and sixth innings but it was not nearly enough to overcome the 8-0 hole when starter Andrew Heaney left the game after three innings. The long balls were the 18th and 19th for Jung, who leads all MLB rookies in that category. He's hit safely in five of the last six contests, including multiple hits in four of them, going 9-for-26 (.346) with five extra-base hits and six runs scored.

Jung batted third and went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 6-2 win over Boston.

Jung and Nathaniel Lowe were switched in the batting order, and the rookie third baseman produced a second straight multi-hit game. He has hits in seven of the last eight games, going 10-for-32 with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI during that stretch. Manager Bruce Bochy has toyed around with Jung hitting third -- Tuesday was the fourth time in the last 15 games -- but the manager hasn't made it a permanent fixture.

Jung went 1-for-3 with a walk and solo home run in Friday's 5-3 loss to Houston.

Jung hit the first of back-to-back homers in the fourth inning, the third baseman's 17th blast of the season. He's hit safely and driven in runs in four straight games, going 5-for-14 with two home runs, five RBI and four walks. Earlier this week, Jung was named an All-Star Game starter, the first Rangers rookie to start in the midsummer classic.

Jung went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 10-2 win over the Tigers.

Jung went deep in the third inning for his 16th home run and first in eight contests. The young third baseman was held out of the starting lineup the previous day after a 3-for-25 (.120) stretch during which he failed to drive in a run.

Jung is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Tigers.

This appears to be a planned night of physical and mental rest for Jung, who went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in Monday's loss to Detroit. Josh Smith will play third base and bat ninth for the Rangers on Tuesday.

Jung batted third and went 0-for-5 in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to the White Sox.

One day after Bruce Bochy moved Jung to third in the order against a lefty, the manager did the same thing against a righty Tuesday. Bochy talked about breaking up two consecutive lefty hitters -- Corey Seager and Nathaniel Lowe -- against southpaws, but it appears he may be inclined to make the change regardless of who is pitching.

Jung went 3-for-5 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Monday's win over the White Sox.

Jung had just one home run through 14 games this month but he's now gone deep twice in his last three appearances. Even after the three-hit day, the rookie third baseman has gone 16-for-64 (.250) across 17 June contests. Still, he owns an impressive .284/.339/.509 slash line with 30 extra-base knocks and 51 runs scored through 295 plate appearances this season.

Jung went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Blue Jays.

Jung hit the first of back-to-back homers in the second inning to erase an early deficit. It was his 14th of the season, ranking him second on the Rangers behind Adolis Garcia. The young third baseman's production has dropped off during June, which is something he'll have to fight through. Jung's made 285 plate appearances in 2023, the second highest total behind his 2021 campaign in the minors when had a combined 342 PAs in Double-A and Triple-A.

Jung isn't in the Rangers' lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels.

Jung will get a day off Thursday after slashing .234/.321/.362 over the past two weeks. He'll be replaced at third base by Josh Smith, who will bat ninth.

Jung went 3-for-4 with a walk, one RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 12-3 win over the Mariners.

After opening the series 0-for-7 in the first two games -- which snapped his 14-game hitting streak -- Jung got back on track with a solid showing Sunday. The third baseman has multiple hits in eight of his last 17 contests. He's up to a .294/.343/.518 slash line with 12 home runs, 38 RBI, 42 runs scored, one stolen base, 11 doubles and a triple through 55 games overall. The 25-year-old has a near-everyday role in a strong offense, putting him on track to continue his breakout campaign.

Jung went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Tigers.

Jung finished the month of May with a .917 OPS and head into June on a 14-game hit streak, during which he's posted a .434/.492/.792 line. The whole lineup hit during May, leading MLB with a .286 average, and Jung was one of four Rangers to post more than 30 hits.

Jung went 3-for-5 with a double, a homer, two RBI and three runs scored in Tuesday's victory over the Tigers.

Jung scored the opening run Tuesday after cracking a one-out double in the second inning. He'd later extend the Rangers' lead to 9-6 in the seventh, belting a two-run homer off Tyler Holton. The 25-year-old Jung extended his hit streak to 13 games -- he's gone 21-for-49 with four home runs in that span. He's now slashing .291/.338/.527 with 12 home runs, 37 RBI and 39 runs scored through 219 plate appearances this season.

Jung went 3-for-5 with a triple, one RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 12-2 win over Baltimore.

Jung continued a torrid stretch with a fourth consecutive multi-hit effort (9-for-17). Overall, he's hit nine straight, going 15-for-34 (.441) with six extra-base hits, 10 RBI and nine runs during the streak.

Jung went 2-for-4 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 6-1 victory over the Pirates.

Jung extended Texas' lead to 4-1 with a two-run single in the sixth inning before smacking his 11th home run of the year off Duane Underwood in the eighth. Jung has homered in three straight contests while extending his hitting streak to seven games. The rookie third baseman is now slashing .268/.316/.492 with 33 RBI and 33 runs scored through 193 plate appearances this season.

Jung went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's 6-4 loss to the Pirates.

Jung singled in his first at-bat, and after being retired in back-to-back plate appearances, he launched a two-run home run in the ninth to cut Pittsburgh's lead to 6-4. It was the second straight game Jung hit a long ball, and he's also hit safely in 10 of his past 11 appearances. During that stretch, the 2019 first-round pick is slashing .318/.375/.477. On the season, he's hitting .263/.312/.474 with 10 homers and 30 RBI.

Jung went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional run scored and a walk in Sunday's 13-3 win over the Rockies.

Jung got the scoring started for the Rangers with his second-inning solo shot. It was his ninth homer of the year, but his first in 15 games. The third baseman is slashing .257/.308/.456 with 28 RBI, 30 runs scored, a stolen base and seven doubles through 43 contests in his first season as a near-everyday player.

Jung is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

Jung will get a breather after going 1-for-3 in each of the first two games of the series with Atlanta. Josh Smith will handle third base and hit eighth Wednesday while Jung sits.

Jung went 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI during Wednesday's 12-7 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Righty Brandon Pfaadt was making his MLB debut for Arizona, and Jung helped welcome him to the big leagues with long balls in the fourth and fifth innings. Jung has showcased his power early this season and has an .866 OPS with eight home runs and 24 RBI through 28 games, but he remains susceptible to punchouts with a 32.5 percent strikeout rate.

Jung went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, a double, a walk, five RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's 15-2 win over the Yankees.

Jung collected his first career grand slam in the first inning after taking Nestor Cortes deep to right field to open up a 4-0 lead for the Rangers. He would reach base again after a bases loaded walk in the sixth and then later doubled in the eighth and came around to score both times. The 25-year-old is now slashing .270/.324/.500 with six homers, 21 RBI, 18 runs and a 7:35 BB:K over 108 plate appearances. He's certainly put himself in the early conversation for AL Rookie of the Year after a fast start to kick off the first month of the season.

Jung (hand) is back in the Rangers' lineup for Friday's game versus the Yankees.

A hit by pitch on the left hand forced Jung from Wednesday's game against the Reds and he sat out on Thursday, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in this one. Jung will be at third base and batting fifth versus Clarke Schmidt.

Jung (hand) is expected to return Friday against the Yankees.

Jung, who was removed from Wednesday's game after getting hit on the left hand, was held out of Thursday's game. Ezequiel Duran filled for him at third base. Jung took pre-game batting practice Thursday while wearing a padded guard over the hand.

Jung (hand) took practice Thursday while wearing a padded guard on his left hand, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung is out of Thursday's lineup after being hit in the hand Wednesday. He avoided structural damage and is expected to avoid a long-term absence, and his activity Thursday supported a quick return. Grant did note that Jung will wear the guard until all of the discomfort in his hand subsides.

Jung (hand) is absent from the Rangers' lineup for Thursday's game versus the Yankees.

Jung had to be removed from Wednesday's contest in Cincinnati after being hit in the left hand. He avoided any fractures and is expected to be fine, but the youngster is surely still sore so he'll get a little down time. Ezequiel Duran is at third base Thursday.

Jung was diagnosed with a left hand contusion after exiting Wednesday's game against the Reds in the top of the third inning, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung picked up the injury in question during his first at-bat of the day in the top of the second, when he was hit by a pitch. He was able to take his base and then played the field for the next half inning, only to exit the contest when his next turn came up in the batting order. Fortunately for Jung, preliminary X-rays have ruled out any structural damage to his hand, but he should still be viewed as day-to-day heading into Thursday's series opener versus the Yankees.

Jung exited Wednesday's game against the Reds after being hit by a pitch, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The second-year third baseman should be considered day-to-day until the Rangers provide an update. Ezequiel Duran entered to replace Jung, who has hit three home runs with 11 RBI in his last 11 games but with a 42.9 percent strikeout rate.

Jung went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a solo home run in Monday's 7-6 loss against Cincinnati.

Jung tied the game at 1-1 in the second with a solo shot and extended the Rangers' lead to 5-1 in the third with a two-run blast. Through 21 games (91 plate appearances), Jung is slashing .282/.494/.824 with five home runs, 14 RBI, 15 runs scored and one stolen base.

Jung went 2-for-6 with two RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 18-3 win over Oakland.

Jung laced a two-run single as part of a five-run second inning to extend his hitting streak to 10 consecutive games. He's gone 14-for-42 during the streak with three extra-base hits, six RBI and eight runs while striking out 16 times.

Jung went 1-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 12-2 win over the Royals.

Jung reached in the second on in infield hit and then walked in the fourth. He wound up swiping second for his first steal of the year and eventually came around to score. The 2019 first round pick is living up to the billing early on in the season, slashing .288/.333/.492 with three home runs, nine RBI and 10 runs.

Jung went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Monday's 4-0 win over the Royals.

Jung, who normally bats fifth, slid up to cleanup as Adolis Garcia was given the night off. The move paid immediate dividends in the first inning when Jung hit his third home run of the season, giving Texas an early lead it would not relinquish. The 25-year-old third baseman has a six-game hitting streak and hit safely in 12 of 15 to start the season.

Jung went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double and two runs scored in Tuesday's 8-5 extra-inning win over the Royals.

Jung was back at third base after getting a day off Monday. The 25-year-old hit safely in seven of 10 games, posting a .263/.333/.474 line with two home runs, two doubles, five RBI and seven runs. Third base was a black hole for the Rangers in 2022 but not so this season.

Jung is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.

Jung will be on the bench for the first time all season, opening up third base for Josh Smith. While starting in each of Texas' first nine games, Jung has hit .229 with two home runs, five RBI and five runs while striking out at a manageable 24.3 percent clip.

Jung went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Orioles.

Jung extended the Rangers' advantage to 2-0 with an RBI single in the first inning and gave Texas the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homer, his second long ball of the season. The 2019 first-round pick now has a hit in five straight games, including an extra-base knock in three of his last four.

Jung went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Phillies.

Jung launched his first homer of the season to lead off the second innings. His bat was quiet during the Rangers' first two games when the club scored 27 runs, but it was vital in Sunday's low-scoring affair. The third baseman, who and a single and two walks in the first two contests, has crossed the plate four times, which is tied for the team lead.

Jung was involved in a minor car accident on his way to Saturday's Cactus League game against the Angels and has been scratched from the lineup, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Jung is not injured, but the Rangers will keep the third baseman out of the lineup as they deal with the logistics of the accident. Assuming everything is ok, the infielder should be back in the lineup in the coming days.

Jung went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's spring game against the Cubs.

Jung is 5-for-20 in nine Cactus League games, but the main thing he's healthy and playing spring ball. He didn't play in 2020 due to the pandemic, then had a foot injury in 2021 and shoulder surgery in 2022. Jung is taking on the challenge of being the Rangers' starting third baseman, an unsettled position for much of 2022 until he was added to the roster in September.

Jung went 3-for-4 with two home runs, two runs and five RBI in a 5-0 win against the Mariners on Tuesday.

Jung was responsible for all five Texas runs Tuesday, connecting on a solo home run in the second inning, RBI-single in the sixth and three-run homer in the eighth to provide valuable insurance. The 24-year-old has recorded multiple hits in each of his last two contests, batting 5-for-8 with a double and two long balls to up his season line to .227/.250/.515 across 16 games. His slugging is propped up by five of his 15 leaving the yard.

Jung snapped an 0-for-19 skid with two hits in Sunday's loss to Cleveland, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

The Rangers are letting Jung get experience over the final month regardless of the results, which have been a mixed bag. Seven of his 12 hits have gone for extra bases, but the young third baseman has a 28-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The organization's hitting coaches will address the decrease in walks and increase in strikeouts over the winter and into spring training, and the Rangers don't sound overly concerned by the slump in Jung's first exposure to major-league pitching.

Jung went 0-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 6-3 loss to Cleveland.

Jung stole his second base after a sixth-inning walk and came home on a Josh Smith two-out single. Jung doesn't have a history of running in the minors, but the Rangers, who lead MLB with 124 swipes, encourage aggressiveness on the bases.

Jung went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBI and a strikeout during Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Rangers.

Although the Rangers struggled to generate much offensive production Sunday, Jung performed well with his first multi-hit performance since his major-league debut Sept. 9. The 24-year-old has recorded hits in eight of his first 10 games with the Rangers and has hit .250 with three home runs, three doubles, six RBI, four runs and a stolen base.

Jung went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Marlins.

Jung started at third base in both ends of the two-game slate and doubled in the matinee. Since having his contract selected, Jung is 5-for-20 with four of those hits going for extra bases, including two home runs.

Jung started at third base and went 2-for-4 with with a solo home run and stole a base in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays.

Jung's contract was selected from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday, and the prospect made a much-anticipated debut. He fulfilled the hype by homering in his first at-bat, mashing a Ross Stripling changeup over the fence in left field at a rate of 102.6 mph, and became just the 12th player in MLB history to hit a homer and steal a base in his debut, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Jung wasn't much a stolen-base threat in the minors, swiping seven bags over 153 games, and has a 40-grade run tool.

Jung's contract was selected from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Jung's activation was expected for several days, and he'll officially start at third base and bat seventh during his major-league debut Friday against the Blue Jays. The 24-year-old has less competition for playing time at the hot corner after Ezequiel Duran was sent down Thursday, and the Rangers' top prospect should have plenty of chances to secure regular at-bats in the majors over the final month of the season.

Jung will be called up by the Rangers to make his major-league debut Friday, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Jung appeared likely to begin the 2022 season as the Rangers' primary third baseman, but he suffered a torn left labrum during spring training and wasn't cleared to rejoin the Triple-A club until early August. He's performed well since returning to action at Round Rock, slashing .274/.317/.526 with six home runs, 24 RBI, 14 runs and a stolen base over 22 games. The 24-year-old saw time at both corner-infield spots during a rehab assignment with the Rangers' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate. The team's top prospect should have plenty of chances to earn playing time for the big-league club over the final month of the regular season, while Brad Miller will likely be placed on the 10-day injured list with a hip injury Friday.

Jung (shoulder) will be activated from Triple-A Round Rock's 60-day injured list Tuesday and start at third base in his season debut for the affiliate, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Entering spring training, Jung looked like the leading candidate to open the season as the Rangers' starting third baseman, but his hopes of breaking camp with the big club came to an end when he ultimately required surgery to repair his torn left labrum, an injury he sustained while lifting weights. At the time of his procedure in late February, Jung was expected to miss 6-to-8 months, but he progressed much faster in his recovery than anticipated. The 24-year-old began a rehab assignment July 28 in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, and after hitting .240 with three home runs while seeing time at both corner-infield spots over eight games, he'll get the green light to debut for Round Rock. If Jung holds up well physically and shows that he can consistently hit for power at Triple-A coming off shoulder surgery, a late-season promotion to the Rangers could still be in play.

Jung (shoulder) started at first base and went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run for the Rangers' affiliate in the Arizona Complex League on Saturday.

That's two consecutive games with a home run for Jung. He underwent shoulder surgery in February, is rehabbing in the ACL, and beginning to play the field. After serving as a DH-only to start his rehab, Jung has made four starts in the field (three at 3B and one at 1B).

Jung (shoulder) started at third base and went 1-for-3 with two walks and a two-run home run for the ACL Rangers on Friday.

Jung has been rehabbing in the ACL but had served as DH only until a few days ago. This was his third start at third base and first in which he's played a full nine-inning game. The Rangers had previously thought playing the field was off the table for the rest of the season, according to Levi Weaver of The Athletic, so this is an encouraging development for the prospect.

Jung (shoulder) will play third base for the next six-to-10 days with the Rangers' Arizona Complex League affiliate before joining a minor-league affiliate, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung has been playing in the Arizona Complex League since July 27, though he had been limited to duties as designated hitter. That he'll be able to field his position is a positive sign in his recovery, as he was not originally expected to be able to do so for any portion of the 2022 season. Jung is projected to join Triple-A Round Rock once activated from the injured list.

Jung (shoulder) went 1-for-3 with a solo home run for the Rangers' affiliate in the Arizona Complex League on Friday.

Jung made his second rehab appearance, both as a designated hitter, and has hits in both games. He's expected to serve a week to 10 days in the ACL before joining Triple-A Round Rock, where he finished 2022. Jung is limited to DH duty for now, but Levi Weaver of The Athletic reported the third baseman might play the field this season, something originally thought to be out of the question.

Jung (shoulder) is scheduled to begin playing in rehab games Thursday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League as a designated hitter, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung has been on the shelf since late February after requiring surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, but he's cleared a major hurdle in the recovery process over the past week by resuming live batting practice. Even though Jung's procedure was for his non-throwing shoulder, the 24-year-old still hasn't been cleared for defensive work, so he'll be limited strictly to DH duty for the start of his rehab assignment. Grant relays that the Rangers will re-evaluate Jung in the next 10 days or so before determining if he's ready to see some action in the field. Once he's activated from the minor-league 60-day injured list, Jung is eventually expected to settle back into a regular role at third base for Triple-A Round Rock.

Jung (shoulder) is taking batting practice and is on track to serve as the designated hitter in minor-league games during the 2022 season, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Jung has been sidelined all season after undergoing shoulder surgery, but he is currently at the team's spring training facility and is expected to participate in sim games shortly. From there, he'll likely go on a rehab assignment and could be activated from the injured list in time to play in a few games with Triple-A Round Rock prior to the end of the campaign.

Jung (shoulder) was placed on Triple-A Round Rock's 60-day injured list Tuesday.

Since Jung isn't on the Rangers' 40-man roster, the team reassigned him to the minors after he suffered a torn labrum in February that later required surgery. As a result, he'll be part of the IL for the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate rather than the big club. Jung is expected to require 6-to-8 months to recovery from surgery, making it unlikely that he comes off Round Rock's 60-day IL until September.

Jung no longer requires the use of a sling to stabilize his surgically repaired left shoulder, independent baseball journalist Jeff Wilson reports.

Now four weeks removed from arthroscopic surgery, Jung has taken the first notable step forward in his recovery by ditching the sling. Though Jung is seemingly progressing at well at this early stage of his rehab program, the Rangers are still preparing for him to be sidelined for 6-to-8 months. That timeline means that Jung likely isn't on track to make his MLB debut this season, unless the Rangers find themselves in playoff contention in September and are looking to add an impact bat to the active roster.

Jung is expected to be sidelined for 6-to-8 months after he underwent arthroscopic surgery Wednesday to repair a torn left labrum, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung was shut down last week after suffering the injury while lifting weights, but a decision on whether he would require surgery wasn't immediately made. Now that Jung has opted for the procedure, he's expected to be sidelined until September at the earliest, effectively closing the door on the top prospect's chances of making his MLB debut this season. Even once he completes his rehab program, Jung will be limited to designated hitter duties rather than playing at third base. Jung's injury at least tentatively clears the way for Isaiah Kiner-Falefa to open the season in an everyday role for Texas at the hot corner.

Jung is expected to be sidelined for six months after he underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn left labrum, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung was shut down last week after suffering the injury while lifting weights, but a decision on whether he would require surgery wasn't immediately made. Now that Jung has opted for the procedure, he's expected to be sidelined until September, effectively closing the door on the top prospect's chances of making his MLB debut this season. Even once he completes his rehab program, Jung will be limited to designated-hitter duties rather than playing third base. Jung's injury at least tentatively clears the way for Isaiah Kiner-Falefa to open the season as the Rangers' everyday third baseman.

Jung experienced left shoulder discomfort while lifting weights last week and has been shut down with a labral strain, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Jung is considered one of the more interesting prospects set to debut this season, as he hit .326/.398/.592 across the two highest levels of the minors in 2021 and has a clear path to the third base job in Texas. He's unfortunately now suffered a preseason injury two years in a row, as a stress fracture in his left foot last March pushed his season debut back to mid-June. Exactly how much time this particular injury will wind up costing him is not yet clear and will depend in part on whether or not the season is delayed, but it may mean that Isiah Kiner-Falefa ends up remaining the starter at the hot corner for longer than previously expected.

Jung experienced left shoulder discomfort while lifting weights last week and has been shut down with a labral strain, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Jung is considered one of the more interesting prospects set to debut this season, as he hit .326/.398/.592 across the two highest levels of the minors in 2021 and has a clear path to the third base job in Texas. He's unfortunately now suffered a preseason injury two years in a row, as a stress fracture in his left foot last March pushed his season debut back to mid-June. Exactly how much time this particular injury will wind up costing him won't become clear until a follow-up visit next week and will depend in part on whether or not the season is delayed, but it may mean that Isiah Kiner-Falefa ends up remaining the starter at the hot corner for longer than previously expected.

Jung is not expected to make his major-league debut this season, Chris Halicke of SI.com reports.

The Rangers' top prospect has held his own since being promoted to Triple-A Round Rock last month, slashing .246/.348/.509 with three homers, six doubles and six RBI across 66 plate appearances. He's on track to be an important piece for the big club early on in 2022, but he won't be promoted this season unless Texas suffers several injuries on its infield in the coming weeks.

Jung was promoted to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Jung's season didn't start until mid-June after he suffered a stress fracture in his foot back in March, but he's done everything he can to make up for lost time. In 43 games for Double-A Frisco, he's homered 10 times while hitting .308/.366/.544. It's possible he could already handle himself at the major-league level, but the rebuilding Rangers have little incentive to call him up before the end of the year. Whether or not he's in the mix for an Opening Day call-up next season may depend as much on whether the service-time rules are tweaked during the upcoming labor negotiations as on his performance down the stretch for Round Rock.

Jung (COVID-19 protocols) was in uniform for Double-A Frisco in Wednesday's 8-0 win over Arkansas but didn't play, Chris Halicke of SI.com reports.

Though Jung has been out of action since Aug. 7, his presence in the dugout Wednesday suggests he's cleared all COVID-19 protocols and will merely need to regain conditioning before rejoining the lineup. Jung, who is hitting .307 with 10 home runs in 42 games for Frisco this season, should be ready to play by the end of the week.

Jung didn't travel with Double-A Frisco on Wednesday due to COVID-19 testing and contact tracing protocols, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Jung has been performing well at Double-A Frisco this year, as he's slashed .307/.366/.548 with 10 home runs, 40 RBI, 25 runs and two stolen bases across 42 games. While the 23-year-old will spend some time away from the club, the length of his absence depends on whether he tests positive for COVID-19.

Jung (foot) made his season debut for Double-A Frisco on Tuesday and went 1-for-4 against Corpus Christi.

Jung served as the designated hitter for the Rough Riders and slotted in at third in the order. The activity marked the first time he's played in a regular-season game since the end of 2019. A top prospect within the organization, Jung's 2021 season was put on hold first by a delay in the minor league season, then by a stress fracture in his right foot that required a screw to be inserted. Jung seemingly has a clear path to third base for the Rangers, but it's uncertain how last year's pandemic-impacted season and this year's injury delays that timeline.

Jung (foot) has been running the bases and is about 10-14 days from joining an affiliate, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

It's unclear if Jung will join Triple-A Round Rock, where he was expected to start 2021 before suffering the stress fracture in March, or a lower-level affiliate. It is safe to assume, however, that the Rangers will exercise caution in timing the return of one of their top prospects.

Jung (foot) won't be ready for game action until late May or early June, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung is expected to open this season at Triple-A Round Rock despite the fact that he hasn't appeared in a game above Low-A. That seemingly gives him a shot to make his big-league debut this season, but the stress fracture he suffered in his left foot in mid-March may wind up setting his timeline back enough that he doesn't get the chance to push for an opportunity until next year.

Jung was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left foot Saturday and will be out for 6-to-8 weeks while recovering from surgery, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung had reportedly been playing through some discomfort for a few weeks, but the issue is apparently bad enough that he'll need a screw in his foot. He'll now be out until early or mid-May, though the delayed start to the minor-league season means he won't wind up missing too much development time. He's a candidate to make his big-league debut sometime this season given the weakness of the Rangers' third-base depth chart, though he'll need to prove his health and effectiveness before that happens.

Jung is unavailable Friday due to pain in his left foot, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The exact nature and severity of Jung's injury are unclear. Jung has been reassigned to minor-league camp, so he won't be breaking camp on the active roster even if fully healthy. There aren't any particularly inspiring options blocking him at third base, however, so he has a chance to debut at some point this season if he's healthy and effective in the minors.

Jung was assigned to minor-league camp Friday, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

The Rangers don't have many compelling options competing for playing time at third base, with Rougned Odor, Brock Holt and Charlie Culberson among the top candidates. They could have theoretically turned to Jung, who earned rave reviews at the alternate site last season and is expected to debut at some point this year. Sending him down for now makes sense, as he's played in just 44 professional games, none of which have come above the Low-A level, but it may not be too long before he's knocking on the door if he looks good in the minors to start the season.

Texas manager Chris Woodward does not envision Jung making the major-league roster in 2021, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

There's an opportunity at third base, but the Rangers want to groom Jung, the club's top prospect, to be ready for the majors. He's had just 198 professional plate appearances, all at Single-A or below. Assistant general manager Mike Daly, who oversees player development, said last week that Jung will likely open the season at Triple-A Round Rock.

Manager Chris Woodward said Tuesday that he expects Jung to reach the majors at some point in 2021, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Jung has spent the last three months at the Rangers' alternate site camp and will go to Arizona for the extended instructional league later this month. He has apparently impressed this summer, despite the untraditional developmental structure. Jung was seen as a hit over power third baseman, but he worked on tapping into more pull power this summer. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has had a breakout year at third base, so if he keeps it up in 2021, Jung may move to first base if he does indeed debut in his age-23 season.