Encouraging scans and a new running program signal a major step forward for Texas Rangers star third baseman Josh Jung as he battles back from injury.
Josh Jung was scheduled to run Sunday as the Texas Rangers third baseman continues progressing in his recovery from a strained left calf.
If Jung responded well afterward, manager Skip Schumaker said the next step would be beginning a defensive progression, according to Shawn McFarland from The Dallas Morning News.
The update arrived two days after another round of imaging on Jung’s left calf produced encouraging results.
Schumaker met with reporters Friday in West Sacramento and explained that Jung was expected to resume at least some lower-body activity, including jogging, lifting and agility work designed to prepare his body for baseball activity.
“I don’t know how much baseball activity,” Schumaker said, “but at least some lower-half exercise — which means jogging, lifting, doing all that stuff to get his body ready, agility, all that stuff.”
Before Sunday’s game, Schumaker also told Eric Nadel on Rangers Sports Network that Texas had received positive news regarding Jung and that his running progression appeared to be moving in a better direction.
Jung has not played since July 21 against the Chicago White Sox.
He singled and scored in the third inning of that game before leaving and not returning.
Texas placed him on the 10-day Injured List on July 25, retroactive to July 22. Jung became eligible to return on Aug. 1, but the left calf continued limiting his activity.
A long road to recovery
Earlier this month, Schumaker acknowledged that Jung’s recovery was not progressing the way the Rangers wanted. As recently as Aug. 11, there was still no new timetable for his return.
Before going on the Injured List, Jung had appeared in 92 games while hitting .294/.361/.441 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs.
At the time of the injury, his .294 batting average ranked fourth in the American League. His 104 hits were tied for ninth, while his 32 multihit games were tied for second.
Calf injuries are not new for Jung.
A left calf strain kept him sidelined for most of Spring Training in 2024, while another calf issue cost him four games in 2025. Neither previous injury required a trip to the Injured List.
Texas selected Jung with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft following his career at Texas Tech.
He became an All-Star during his first full MLB season in 2023 and remained the Rangers’ regular third baseman throughout their World Series run that fall.
Jung is a career .264/.313/.430 hitter in 417 games with the Rangers with 58 home runs and 196 RBIs.
Texas and Jung avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.9 million contract for 2026. He remains under club control and will again be arbitration eligible next year.
Jung’s value
Jung’s importance to Texas goes well beyond his numbers.
He provides stability at third base and gives the Rangers a hitter capable of handling an everyday role in the middle of the lineup. His ability to make consistent hard contact and use the entire field makes him difficult to replace with one player.
His experience also carries value. Jung has already played through the pressure of a World Series run and understands what meaningful late-season baseball demands.
The Rangers will nevertheless need patience. Given his history of calf problems, ensuring Jung can run, defend and handle the physical demands of third base without restriction matters more than rushing him back.
If his running progression continues moving forward, Texas could soon regain one of the most important pieces of its lineup and infield.
