Tuesday newsletter time: Josh Jung’s value to Rangers shouldn’t be lost in rookie vote
(AP photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Josh Jung was not a finalist for American League Rookie of the Year, which on Monday unanimously went to Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson.
Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee and Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas were second and third, and Jung, the Rangers’ third baseman, finished fourth.
The broken thumb that required surgery in August essentially knocked Jung out of the running after he opened the season by winning AL Rookie of the Month in April and May. His injury coincided with the Rangers’ worst stretch of the season.
Maybe it wasn’t a coincidence.
Considering the drastic upgrade he gave the Rangers at a position that hadn’t been the same since Adrian Beltre retired, Jung’s impact shouldn’t be diminished by the fourth-place finish. He might have been the MVR, most valuable rookie.
The Orioles are still a playoff team without Henderson. The Rangers might not have been a playoff team without Jung.
The AL Manager of the Year will be announced tonight, and Bruce Bochy is a finalist. The Orioles might get the Rangers again, though, with Brandon Hyde the favorite.
Remember: All voting is completed by the final day of the regular season and what happens in the postseason is not a factor. If it were, Bochy would be a shoo-in.
I voted for Manager of the Year and will discuss my 1-2-3 after the winner is announced.
TV time
The Rangers’ season-opener March 28 against the Cubs at Globe Life Field has been moved to 6:35 p.m. to accommodate an ESPN telecast.
A national audience will see the reigning world champions against one of the most popular teams in the game with a new $8 million manager. It’s way too early to predict Opening Day starters, but right-hander Nathan Eovaldi seems like the logical choice for the Rangers, with left-hander Justin Steele a strong possibility for the Cubs.
I always look forward to Game 2. The opener is a circus, with all kinds of media on hand. Oftentimes, many of them don’t come back until something big happens, like the postseason.
Game 2 is not something big.
News today
As was written in the Sunday Read, the deadline for setting the 40-man roster is today and the Rangers will be adding some prospects in order to keep them from being selecting in the Rule 5 draft.
The thinking is they will add four players — Justin Foscue, Marc Church, Antoine Kelly and Dane Acker. The hope is that they protect Blaine Crim and Davis Wendzel, past guest of the Rangers Today Baseball Podcast.
The Rangers have seven free spots on the 40-man, but they are going to need roster spots for later in the offseason and also need some roster flexibility during the season. The Rangers lost some prospects and young players (Ricky Vanasco, Bubba Thompson) to waiver claims after they had been designated for assignment to create 40-man openings.
Doggy video!
This is just perfect. A very good dog. Enjoy.
— out of context dogs (@contextdogs) November 13, 2023
Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com
Cleveland got screwed over by their guy getting 2nd and Jung getting 4th. Texas had Jung on the opening day roster, so he would have gotten Texas 500k international slot money, I think. Cleveland loses a year of arbitration via Super 2 status and doesn’t even get a pick, though I suspect modt teams would risk losing a few weeks and some int’l money in the unlikely scenario their top 100 prospect finished top 2. I really like this excellent commentary and insight.