Josh Jung

Jung had a solid rookie season for the world champs wrapped around a six week stint on the injured list with a thumb injury. The young (must...resist...pun) man held his own at the hot corner and enjoyed his spot in the deep Texas lineup to leverage a fair amount of run production despite the missed time due to his injury. The thumb injury truly defined his season as he hit .280 with 19 homers before the injury and just .229 with 4 homers upon his return in late August. His strikeout rate is currently his biggest concern as it was both high overall and both before and after his injury. Jung has struk out nearly 30% of the time with few walks in over 700 plate appearances between AAA and the majors which limits his batting average ceiling and his low OBP hurts his changes for hitting higher in the lineup. This offensive profile feels a lot like a young Nick Castellanos, and while Jung is in a better ballpark, Castellanos's early numbers are a good benchmark for Jung in 2024.

Jung has been tabbed as the Rangers' third baseman of the future for a couple years now, and after foot and shoulder surgeries delayed his ascent, he finally made his big-league debut at the end of his age-24 season. Drafted eighth overall in 2019 as a hit-over-power corner infielder from Texas Tech, Jung's power has seemingly passed his hit tool as his most impactful skill. He had an elite 42.0 Hard% and a concerning 0.13 BB/K at Triple-A. Predictably, Jung whiffed plenty in the majors (38.2 K%) and didn't walk much (3.9 BB%), but he still got to that plus power in games, hitting five home runs in 102 plate appearances. The Rangers will likely allow Jung to keep playing through reasonable struggles in his first full MLB season. He was hitting in the 4-to-6 range of the lineup down the stretch, so he should have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs. The realistic fantasy upside this season is what we've come to expect from Matt Chapman, but Jung may also go through some prolonged struggles at the plate as a rookie.

When the Rangers selected Jung with the No. 8 overall pick in 2019, he was seen as one of the best pure hitters in the draft, but it was unclear whether he would ever tap into plus power in games. He had success utilizing an oppo-middle approach, but in 2020 the Rangers adjusted his setup to get him ahead of the ball and it unlocked another level for him in the power department. Jung underwent foot surgery in spring training last year, but we saw the fruits of that labor once he got healthy, as he hit .326/.398/.592 with 19 home runs, a 22.2 K% and a 9.1 BB% in 78 games across Double-A and Triple-A. Unfortunately, his big-league debut will probably have to wait until 2023 after he suffered a shoulder injury lifting weights and required surgery in February. Reports suggest he will miss six-to-eight months.

Few prospects received more rave reviews at their team's alternate training site than Jung, the No. 8 overall pick in 2019. Rangers manager Chris Woodward was so impressed that he said in September he expects Jung to reach the majors in 2021, despite the fact he has never played above Low-A. We almost never hear bold proclamations like that from team personnel. True to their word, the team is already clearing the decks at the hot corner, announcing that Isiah Kiner-Falefa will move to shortstop this season. A hit-over-power prospect coming out of Texas Tech, Jung's hit tool still projects as at least plus, and he successfully developed into a power hitter at the alternate site and in instructs. Texas is envisioning a No. 3 or No. 4 hitter who hits around .300 with 25-plus HR. He will open the year at Double-A and will make his MLB debut this summer if he performs as expected.

A big (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) third baseman from Texas Tech, Jung was seen as one of the safer bats from the college ranks, which led to the Rangers selecting him with the eighth-overall pick in the 2019 draft. The hope is that he will be a plus hitter who develops plus game power. As things stand, he might be a little too content to show off that hit tool (42.3 Oppo%, 16.2 K% at Low-A), given that he will need to be a run producer in the big leagues. Jung is a below-average runner, but he played some shortstop in college and should have the hands and arm to stick at the hot corner. Realistic outcomes range from Justin Turner to Colin Moran, assuming Jung continues with the hit-over-power approach. He will likely be sent to High-A for the start of his age-22 season, but should spend the majority of the year at Double-A if he performs as expected, setting up a potential 2021 MLB debut.