The Texas Rangers were dealt another tough blow as rookie All-Star third baseman Josh Jung suffered a fractured thumb on his left hand during the sixth inning of Sunday’s 6-0 win over the Miami Marlins.
The injury appeared to occur as Jung dropped a line drive but recovered to turn a double play. He left the field after the play and did not return.
Dr. Donald Sheridan examined him in Arizona on Monday and determined Jung would need surgery to stabilize the base of the thumb.
“I feel awful for him,” Rangers Manager Bruce Bochy told the media. “He was just having an incredible year. The thing is with him, too, it was workload concern, the load management, how much could you play him? Because he really hadn’t been through a season like this and here he was playing some of his best baseball. This guy just had tons of energy, still going and was swinging the bat well, playing a great third base. So I’m sick for him. I really am. And for us, too. You’re going to miss a guy like Josh Jung.”
The former Texas Tech standout, who made his MLB debut late last season, maintained his rookie eligibility and has been the leader for the American League Rookie of the Year Award with a .274 batting average, 22 home runs, and 67 RBIs in 109 games as the team’s starter at the hot corner.
The Rangers (67-46) officially placed him on the 10-day injured list on Monday and recalled Jonathan Ornelas from Triple-A Round Rock.
Jung will have surgery on Wednesday, August 9, ESPN reported and is expected to miss a minimum of six weeks. That puts his possible return around the end of September or the beginning of October — just in time for the playoffs.
Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper suffered the same injury last June and returned to the lineup about two months later, albeit only as a hitter.
Jung was initially called up to the big leagues last September and hit five home runs in 25 games. He took a firm hold of the third base job in spring training, hitting .321 and showing signs of the player the team envisioned when he was drafted eighth overall in 2019.
Josh H. Smith and Ezequiel Duran have MLB experience at third base and could be viable options to take his place in the lineup, while Ornelas provides another alternative. Duran started in Jung’s place in Monday’s win over Oakland.
The Rangers’ season continues against the Oakland Athletics (32-81) at 8:40 p.m. CT on Tuesday.
