Josh Jung’s refined pregame preparation fuels a dominant return from the Injured List, restoring a vital power source to the middle of the Texas Rangers lineup.
Josh Jung’s disciplined approach and detailed pregame preparation have driven his success for the Texas Rangers this season.
The third baseman is hitting .303 with two home runs and four RBIs in eight games since returning from a left calf strain.
Texas activated Jung on Sept. 12 against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, ending his 47-game absence. He went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in his return.
On Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays, Jung hit a solo home run to right field in the first inning against José Soriano. It was his 11th home run of the season and helped Texas earn a 6-2 victory.
Jung is hitting .295 with 11 home runs, 39 RBIs and an .809 OPS in 100 games this season.
During the fifth inning of his first game back, a pitch fractured Joc Pederson’s left hand. Pederson has not played since.
Jung’s adjustments
Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young appeared on 105.3 The Fan on Monday and praised Jung’s season and the adjustments behind it. He said the Rangers missed Jung’s bat and felt his absence in the middle of the lineup.
Regaining Jung only to lose Pederson immediately was difficult, but Young acknowledged that every team encounters injuries and emphasized the importance of Jung’s return.
“One, it speaks to how great he’s been all year and the adjustments that he’s made,” Young said.
“He’s been so critically important to our lineup, and it felt like when he got hurt a few weeks ago that we certainly missed his bat and we had a void in the middle of our lineup. With him coming back, I could not believe the timing of Joc Pederson getting hit the first game that JJ came back and losing right as we get one important piece to our lineup back."
Young also credited Jung for refining his approach, investing considerable time in pregame preparation and remaining disciplined once he reaches the plate.
“We lost another, but that said, there’s no excuse making," Young added. "Every team has injuries, and having JJ back is huge. Really, he deserves so much credit for the adjustments that he’s made.”
Jung’s importance
Before suffering the calf injury, Jung was hitting .294/.361/.441 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs in 92 games. His 104 hits, 23 doubles, 46 runs and .802 OPS all led Texas at that time.
Jung last played before the injury on July 21 against the Chicago White Sox. The Rangers placed him on the 10-day Injured List four days later, retroactive to July 22. Ezequiel Durán received most of the starts at third base during his absence.
Calf trouble has previously affected Jung. A left calf strain cost him most of 2024 spring training, while another calf problem sidelined him for four games in 2025.
Jung went 3-for-15 with one home run during four rehabilitation games with Triple-A Round Rock. With Pederson unavailable, he has also started at designated hitter.
Texas selected Jung eighth overall from Texas Tech in 2019. He became an All-Star as a rookie in 2023 and won the World Series with the Rangers that fall. Jung agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million contract for 2026.
Jung’s preparation allows him to enter each at-bat with a clear plan while retaining the discipline to follow it. His ability to adjust without abandoning his strengths has made him a dependable middle-of-the-order presence.
Texas leads the Houston Astros by one game in the American League West. The Rangers begin a three-game series against the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on Tuesday.
