The Texas Rangers suffered the first significant injury to their lineup as second-year third baseman Josh Jung left Monday’s win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the ninth inning.
Jung took a 2-1 pitch off his right wrist as he tried to hold his swing. Unfortunately, he couldn’t hold up. The pitch was called a strike by swing-and-miss, and Jung suffered a fractured wrist on the play. Josh Smith entered the game to finish the at-bat and drew a walk to increase the Texas lead to 9-3.
“I just feel horrible,” manager Bruce Bochy told the media postgame. “He’s had such tough luck on this end as far as injuries and [it] puts a damper on this win. Especially the way he was playing; he was carrying us today. He’ll be back. I talked to him briefly. Now, this hurts, and you know, I feel for the kid because he’s had to deal with so much. It’s going to be a little while, but he’ll be back.”
Jung’s absence could be a significant loss for the Rangers as he had at least one hit in all four games this season, including an impressive 3-4 performance with a home run, four RBIs, and two runs scored in Monday’s game — all after hitting 23 homers and collecting 70 RBIs in his first full big-league season.
He has dealt with injuries throughout his career and even missed 40 games last season with a broken thumb he suffered while turning a double play in August.
In his absence, the team will likely turn to Smith and Ezequiel Duran at third base. Duran filled in admirably for an injured Corey Seager at shortstop last season and has played 73 games at third base for the Rangers over the last two seasons. Smith has played 61 games at the hot corner for Texas in that span, but Duran brings more of a punch offensively.
According to ESPN, the Rangers are also calling up prospect Justin Foscue, who can play first, second, and third. Foscue hit .266 with 18 home runs and 84 RBIs in Triple-A last season.
The Rangers have not announced a timetable for Jung’s recovery.
