Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, and a stolen base in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners. Jung blasted a two-run shot off Trent Thornton in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game 3-3. It was his first home run of the season. He also added an RBI single to rack up three RBI in Friday's loss. The 27-year-old was recently activated from the injured list on Tuesday after missing some time with neck spasms. Jung has been blistering hot, collecting a hit in all five games he's played this season. Overall, Jung is slashing .474/.474/.842 with a home run, six RBI, three runs, and a stolen base. Fantasy managers should continue to roll with Jung while he's swinging a hot bat, and he looks to continue his torrid stretch against the Mariners on Saturday.
The Texas Rangers have activated third baseman Josh Jung (neck) off the 10-day injured list prior to their contest on Tuesday evening against the Chicago Cubs. In a corresponding move, the Rangers optioned Ezequiel Duran to Triple-A Round Rock. Jung was able to start in the first two games of the campaign but then hit the injured list due to neck spasms. He was dealing with them during camp, but attempted to play through them. However, the 27-year-old will return to action very quickly after not missing much time. Through his first two games of the campaign, Jung tallied three hits. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their starting lineup, but given that Jung was activated, he will likely return to the hot corner this evening. If he gets the nod, he is worth starting in deeper formats, facing Jameson Taillon, who has posted a 6.97 ERA through his first two starts.
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (neck) went 1-for-3 as the designated hitter with a two-RBI single in a minor-league rehab game with Double-A Frisco on Saturday, and the plan is for him to play third base on Sunday and then travel with the team to Chicago for their series that starts on Monday at Wrigley Field against the Cubs. The 27-year-old is eligible to come off the injured list on Monday, so if he get through Sunday's rehab game without any setbacks, he could be activated and return to the starting lineup against the Cubbies. Jung deal with neck stiffness at the tail end of spring training but opened the year on the Opening Day roster before aggravating his neck after just two games. He went 3-for-7 with an RBI and a strikeout before landing on the IL, but it appears he could be returning soon. Jung has proven extremely injury-prone, but the power upside keeps him interesting in all fantasy formats.
The Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant reports that Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (neck) is taking ground balls and has been doing some hitting as he rehabs from neck spasms that landed him on the 10-day injured list. Jung is eligible to be activated from the IL next Tuesday, but it remains to be seen if he'll be back with the big-league squad by then. With the 27-year-old on the shelf, Josh Smith has been serving as Texas' starting third baseman, and he's starting at the hot corner again on Friday and batting seventh against Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zack Littell. Jung, the former eighth overall pick in 2019 out of Texas Tech, has immense power upside for fantasy managers, but his inability to stay on the field early in his career has become an issue. He was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and hit 23 homers and drove in 70 runs, but he played in 46 games last year due to injuries and didn't take long to get hurt again this year.
The Dallas Morning News' Shawn McFarland reports that Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (neck) is going on the 10-day injured list on Sunday with neck spasms that kept him from playing in Saturday's win over the visiting Boston Red Sox. Jung also dealt with neck stiffness at the end of spring training and was held out of two exhibition games against the Kansas City Royals on Monday and Tuesday. With infielder Josh Smith (quadriceps) suffering a left-quad contusion on Saturday, the Rangers could be pretty short-handed at the hot corner going into next week. If Smith cannot play on Sunday, expect Ezequiel Duran to start at third against Boston. Jung went 3-for-7 in the first two games of the season and has notable pop from the right side, but so far early in his career, the 27-year-old just hasn't been able to stay on the field. The good news is that the Rangers are hopeful Jung can return when eligible on April 8.
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung is not in the starting lineup on Saturday when the Rangers continue a series against the Boston Red Sox. Jung started at the hot corner in each of the first two games of the series. He went 3-for-7 at the plate and tallied one RBI. Instead, Josh Smith will cover the hot corner and bat in the seven-hole. Fantasy managers should expect Jung to return to the starting nine on Sunday for the final game of the four-game set against Boston. Last season, Jung battled injuries as he only appeared in 46 contests. During that stretch, he went deep seven times and held a .264 AVG. Smith held a .258/.337/.394 slash line with 30 doubles and 13 long balls across 149 games. He should not be targeted in DFS facing Walker Buehler, who will be making his Boston debut.
Josh Jung Pulled Early On Friday With Neck Stiffness
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (neck) was removed from Friday's win over the visiting Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Field early due to neck stiffness, according to MLB.com's Kennedi Landry. Jung's neck stiffened up on him during a play in the field, and he was replaced by Josh Smith. Before leaving, the 27-year-old went 1-for-3 with a single and an RBI. This is concerning for an oft-injured slugger that was also removed from Monday's exhibition game against the Kansas City Royals due to a stiff neck. Although at the time it was considered a precaution, the fact that Jung is still dealing with neck issues is a concern, and it's quite possible it will land him on the injured list. Jung has intriguing power upside at the hot corner in fantasy, but his inability to stay on the field has given him equally as much downside. If he misses additional time, Smith will be the primary beneficiary at third base in Texas.
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (neck) is expected to be ready to go for Thursday's season opener against the Boston Red Sox. Jung made a precautionary exit from Monday's contest due to neck stiffness. He was back in the lineup a day later, so this appears to be a minor issue. That being said, Jung should be in the Opening Day lineup, barring any setbacks. Jung only played in 46 games last season due to injuries, but smacked 23 home runs and made the All-Star team in 2023. The 27-year-old has legit power, but the injury history could be a concern for some fantasy managers.
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (neck) was scratched from the team's exhibition game on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals as a precaution due to neck stiffness. Jung was pulled early from Monday's contest against the Royals, but general manager Chris Young feels confident that he will be ready for Opening Day on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox. Ezequiel Duran took over for Jung at third base and will hit ninth in the batting order on Tuesday. It's something to watch for the 27-year-old oft-injured third baseman, but for now, fantasy managers have no reason to panic about his healthy to begin the regular season. However, if Jung's neck injury lingers, both Josh Smith and Duran could split playing time at the hot corner for Texas. There's plenty of fantasy upside with Jung for his power, but he's proving to be very injury-prone early in his MLB career.
Josh Jung Returns To Tuesday's Lineup Against Royals
As expected, Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (neck) is back at third base and is batting fifth in Tuesday's exhibition contest against the Kansas City Royals. As a precautionary measure, Jung was pulled early from Monday's game against the Royals due to neck stiffness, but the fact that he's back in action a day later means he will be fine for Opening Day on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox. The 27-year-old former eighth overall pick in 2019 out of Texas Tech is a big injury risk for fantasy managers, but he has plenty of power upside in a good lineup after he hit 23 homers and drove in 70 in just 122 games in his first full major-league season in 2023. Jung struggled at the plate in Cactus League action, going 10-for-49 (.204) with a homer, two doubles, an RBI and 16 strikeouts in 20 games played.
