The Texas Rangers called up Jonah Bride on Sunday because they needed additional infield depth. With Josh Jung’s recovery showing little progress, Bride’s stay now appears likely to be extended.

Texas will spend the entire week on the West Coast trying to catch the Houston Astros in the American League West race. Games against the Los Angeles Angels and Athletics provide an opportunity to gain ground against teams below them in the standings.

The Rangers will attempt to do that without Jung, their best hitter this season.

The third baseman has been on the Injured List since late July with a strained left calf. Although eligible to return whenever he is ready, Jung remains unavailable and has essentially been shut down.

According to Shawn McFarland from The Dallas Morning News, manager Skip Schumaker indicated Jung remains in a holding pattern regarding his progression toward a return.

More concerning, Jung has not participated in baseball activities for more than a week.

That means no hitting, fielding or baserunning, essentially the definition of being shut down without the Rangers officially describing it that way.

When Jung went on the Injured List on July 25, the expectation was that he might require only the minimum 10 days. It has now been 17.

Before suffering the injury while running the bases, Jung was slashing .294/.361/.441 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs in 92 games.

Several hurdles remain before he can return.

Jung will need to resume baseball activities, complete at least one live batting practice session and, at this stage, likely begin a rehab assignment.

The timing could hardly be worse for Texas.

Without Jung, the Rangers have primarily moved Ezequiel Duran to third base, while Bride provides another option at the position.

On Monday, Duran started in left field as Texas shifted Wyatt Langford to center against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers and benched Evan Carter. Bride consequently started at third base. Texas won the game 4-1.

Duran has proven to be a capable replacement while producing the best offensive season of his career. However, having Jung available allows Texas to operate at full strength and move Duran to second base.

Jung’s importance extends beyond his offensive production. His presence at third base creates greater flexibility throughout the Rangers’ lineup. And it allows Schumaker to deploy players in their strongest roles rather than continually adjusting around an important absence.

He also brings consistency to the middle of the order. Jung has developed into a hitter Texas can trust in important situations, making his absence particularly noticeable during a division race.

His challenge now is patience. Calf injuries can significantly affect hitting, defense and baserunning, so returning before he is physically prepared would carry unnecessary risk.

For now, Duran and Bride will share responsibilities at third base while Texas waits for Jung’s recovery to regain traction.

The question is how much longer that wait will last.