Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday that Josh Jung “looks great” after resuming hitting, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. The third baseman was cleared to hit Tuesday following a visit with the doctor who performed his wrist surgery in early April. He hit for a second straight day Wednesday while using a light bat, with Bochy saying “You’d think he was going to be ready in a couple of days” based on how he looked. Jung won’t be ready anytime soon, but it’s an encouraging sign. A more established timeline for the third baseman will likely happen in the coming days.
Bruce Bochy watched Josh Jung hit today: “You’d think he was going to be ready in a couple of days.”
Jung is swinging a lighter bat right now, of course, but Bochy said that “he looks great.”
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) May 29, 2024
Josh Jung Resumes Swinging Bat
Jung is only eight weeks out from surgery. He will get a CT scan to check the progress of the screws holding the fracture together. If that CT scan comes back clean, McFarland added that he could then start ramp-up hitting. Jung was removed from the Rangers 9-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on April 1 after being hit by a pitch on his right hand as he swung at it. Scans quickly revealed a fractured wrist, which landed Jung on the 60-day injured list. In his first four games of the season, Jung went 7-for-17 with two walks, one double, one triple and two home runs.
Jung’s first full MLB season saw him finish four in the American League Rookie of the Year Voting. He hit .266/.315/.467 with 23 home runs in his major league season in 2023. However, he landed on the injured list for six weeks due to a fractured thumb. After his return, he followed up with a .308/.329/.538 slash line and three home runs during the Rangers run to their first World Series title.
Your daily Josh Jung update. pic.twitter.com/WAVJm5879t
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) May 19, 2024
Jung’s Projected Timeline
Jung will be out until at least the start of July, or perhaps closer to the All-Star break. It’ll be another three to four weeks before he’s cleared for full baseball activities and minor league rehab games. It’s common for batters to need some extra re-adjustment after an injury. For someone like Jung, that impacts their ability to control a bat and swing properly. Even though Jung’s had a lengthy absence, Josh Smith has stepped up. He’s hitting .280/.379/.409 this season, earning more playing time at third base.
Main Photo: © Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
