Rangers lose Josh Jung to injured list with broken left thumb
(AP photo/Tony Gutierrez)
All-Star third baseman Josh Jung, the front-runner to be American League Rookie of the Year, will be out indefinitely with a broken left thumb on a freak play in the Rangers’ 6-0 victory.
Manager Bruce Bochy delivered the news in his postgame press conference. Jung will see a specialist, Bochy said, to determine the path forward.
Jung was injured in the sixth inning when a Jorge Soler line drive hit of his glove. Jung stayed with the ball and turned a double play that helped Andrew Heaney escape his biggest jam of the day but left the game. The ball was hit with an exit velocity of 109.4 mph.
Jung has dealt with injuries the past two season, beginning in the spring of 2021 with a stress fracture in his left foot. He needed surgery on his left shoulder before spring training of 2022, but recovered in time to make his MLB debut in September.
He leads all major-league rookies in home runs (22) and leads AL rookies in RBIs (67), total bases (209) and extra-base hits (47). Should he be selected the top AL rookie, the Rangers would receive a high draft pick.
Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith will likely take over at third base while Jung is out. The Rangers could also look in the minors at Rule 5-eligible infielders Justin Foscue and Davis Wendzel at Triple A Round Rock or promote outfielder Bubba Thompson or J.P. Martinez.
Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com
