Josh

Jung

Bride reunites with new Rangers manager Skip Schumaker, who he previously played for in Miami during the 2024 campaign. The 29-year-old infielder got into 45 games last season between the Marlins and Twins, hitting .170 (19-for-112) with five RBI during that span. He represents a low-risk insurance policy at both corner infield spots after both Josh Jung and Jake Burger struggled to stay healthy this past season.

Smith, who hit .251/.335/.366 with 10 homers in 563 plate appearances in 2025, has played pretty regularly against right-handers the last two years, but he hasn’t really had a spot of his own. That might change now. Semien’s departure also might lessen the chances of Josh Jung being dealt, since Smith having his own spot would take him out of the mix at third base. Of course, it’s still really early, and the Rangers, who non-tendered former All-Stars Adolis García and Jonah Heim, have made it clear they’re willing to make big changes.

It feels like the magic may have run out for the Rangers’ “little rascals” as they’ve lost four games in a row and been swept by the Astros to fall further out from playoff contention. Jung’s double brought home one of their two runs and he;s desperately trying to close what’s been a disappointing season on a high note.

Jung can thank the Crawford Boxes for tonight’s homer, which was hit 352 feet to left. It was his first since Aug. 31. He came into tonight having hit .156/.191/.222 in 12 games this month.

Jung will get a day off for the finale against Arizona. The 27-year-old will likely be available off the bench with Ezequiel Duran getting the start at the hot corner and hitting seventh.

Jung ambushed the very first pitch that J.T. Ginn threw in the second inning, crushing a 405-foot (103.3 mph EV) solo shot that increased the Rangers’ advantage to 3-0. He then added an RBI double in the ninth inning. Jung struck out in each of his other three plate appearances in the ballgame. For the season, the 27-year-old infielder is now slashing .259/.304/.405 with 13 homers and 53 RBI in 415 plate appearances.

Jung has been dealing with some calf issues and has been a part-time player of late, though this week, that was probably more about his performance than the calf; he came into tonight in a 5-for-43 slump since Aug. 6. He’ll probably reemerge as a full-timer until he gets hot, but he can’t be picked up in shallow leagues until that happens.

Jung took grounders before today’s game. He missed four games last week before returning as a DH on Monday. He didn’t start Tuesday, as the Rangers wanted Joc Pederson DHing against a right-hander, but he’s back in there today against a lefty. The Rangers are off Thursday.

Jung finds himself back on the bench with Joc Pederson, who belted a clutch game-tying homer against Yankees closer Devin Williams during Monday’s series opener, at DH. The 27-year-old third baseman, who crushed a walk-off homer in the 10th inning of Monday’s marathon affair, is managing a lingering calf issue. He should be available off the bench for a late-game situation, if necessary.

Jung’s home run was his 11th of the season. He hit a three-run walkoff home run off Jake Bird in the bottom of the 10th inning. Jung is 13-for-34 (.382) with three home runs and eight RBI over his last 10 games. He’s hitting .252 with a .697 OPS and 43 RBI this year.