Josh

Jung

Jung’s home run was his eighth of the season. He hit a solo shot off Joey Cantillo in the third inning. Jung continues to hit as his average is up to .313 with an .855 OPS. He’s been one of the big surprise performers this season and should be in the mix for All-Star consideration.

Jung got the scoring started with a solo homer off Seth Lugo in the first inning. He later added a base hit in the seventh, then singled and scored in the ninth in the Rangers’ comeback effort. The 28-year-old third baseman has enjoyed a solid bounce-back season, slugging seven homers while hitting .312/.367/.490 with 27 runs scored and 23 RBI across 221 plate appearances. The improvements come behind a marked drop in his strikeout rate, down from 25.2 percent in 2025 to 14.9 percent this season.

Jung tagged Astros’ starter Spencer Arrighetti for a 424-foot (103.6 mph EV) solo shot in the second inning, pulling the Rangers to within a pair at 3-1. That would be as close as they would get. Jung also singled, walked and struck out in the ballgame. He has been outstanding at the dish so far this season, slashing a robust .307/.365/.474 with six homers and 22 RBI in 211 plate appearances.

The Rangers could certainly use some additional firepower after being no-hit by the Astros during Monday’s series opener and struggling to score runs during a four-game losing streak. Jung is back at third base and hitting cleanup following a two-game absence due to left shoulder soreness. He’s ready to roll after a precautionary MRI came back clean for any structural damage. The 28-year-old has put together the start of a breakthrough campaign, slashing .302/.357/.462 with 22 runs scored, five homers, 21 RBI and one steal across 199 plate appearances over 48 games.

It’s an extremely positive update that Jung isn’t dealing with a serious issue that would require an extended absence. The 28-year-old third baseman has sat out two straight games after exiting Saturday’s showdown against the Angels with left shoulder soreness. It sounds like there’s a chance he’s back in the Rangers’ lineup at some point during their four-game series against the division-rival Astros this week. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now.

Jung has been out since being removed from Saturday’s game with shoulder soreness. The 28-year-old will continue to recover from the bench with Ezequiel Duran playing third base and Michael Helman starting at shortstop.

Jung was replaced by Michael Helman, with Helman taking over at shortstop and Ezequiel Duran moving to third base. Jung will likely undergo imaging on the shoulder, and at the very least, it seems unlikely he’ll be in the lineup for Sunday’s finale against Los Angeles.

Jung’s RBI was a go-ahead base hit in the top of the ninth. The 28-year-old third baseman is barreling the ball a little less frequently than in prior seasons, but he’s significantly cut his strikeout rate while recording a career-best blast rate. The adjustments are working, as he’ll leave the team’s trip to Coors with a .365 OBP. Notably, Jung has hit third or fourth in every Rangers game this month.

A Jung breakthrough, were it to materialize, figured to take the form of a 30-homer season with maybe a .270 average. Instead, he’s hitting .331 at the moment, having cut his strikeout rate from 25 percent last year to 15 percent right now. He’s been fine with his five homers, too, but his .196 isolated slugging percentage is a little lower than his .201 mark from 2023, his one successful year to date. His 5.3 percent barrel rate lags way behind his career mark of 10 percent. Still, it’s definitely working for him.

Jung is now up to five home runs and 20 RBI with a .319/.372/.519 slash line. He’s finally healthy after nagging injuries over the last few years, and he has been the most consistent bat in the Rangers’ lineup this season. There may not be a true breakout here, but Jung is at least emerging as the hitter we expected him to be before the injuries kicked in.