Josh Jung
| AB | 17 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .412 |
| OBP | .474 |
| SLG | .941 |
| HR | 2 |
- Full name Joshua Ryne Jung
- Born 02/12/1998 in San Antonio, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 214 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Texas Tech
- Debut 09/09/2022
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Drafted in the 1st round (8th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2019 (signed for $4,400,000).
View Draft Report
Jung has been one of the most productive players in college baseball over the past three seasons. He was a first-team Freshman All-American in 2017 and a second-team All-American as a sophomore in 2018. His junior season has failed to reach the heights of his sophomore campaign, largely because he’s not flirting with a .400 batting average. But even if his offensive statistics have dipped, scouts remain comfortable that Jung can be an above-average or plus hitter in the future. He is big and strong, but his approach at the plate emphasizes hitting for average over power. He has a solid awareness of the strike zone and is happy to work deep in counts. Falling behind doesn’t seem to bother him either, as he’s shown he can work back from disadvantaged counts. When Jung does get a quality pitch to hit, his swing is geared to drive the ball up the middle or to the right-center field gap. There are plenty of examples of hitters who learn how to pull the ball as pros, but without significant changes, Jung projects as having average power, at best. Some evaluators have concerns that part of his hit-over-power approach comes from his average bat speed. There are even larger debates among evaluators about his defense. Some scouts look at his tight hips and below-average foot speed and project he’ll have to move to a corner outfield spot or first base. But Jung has good hands, an accurate, plus arm and the ability to throw on the run. He also does an excellent job charging in on balls. This season, the Red Raiders have moved Jung to shortstop and he’s looked reasonably comfortable there, even if it’s not a position he’ll play as a pro. The most likely result is Jung ends up as an average third baseman. Jung’s plate discipline, strong arm and his lengthy track record of hitting make him a likely middle-of-the-first-round pick, although the questions surrounding his agility and power potential stand in the way of him being considered in the absolute top tier of this year’s college hitters.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: When Jung stays healthy, he hits. Unfortunately, he's had serious trouble staying on the field since being drafted eighth overall out of Texas Tech in 2019. After earning co-Big 12 Conference player of the year honors in his draft season, Jung signed for $4.4 million, then spent what would have been his first full season as a pro at the Rangers' alternate training site in 2020. A broken foot limited him to 78 games in 2021 and shoulder surgery delayed the start of his 2022 season until July 28. Nonetheless, he recovered in time to make his big league debut on Sept. 9. He hit five home runs in 26 games, including one against 2021 American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray.
Scouting Report: The 2022 season was the first time Jung showed real weakness at the plate. Between Triple-A and the big leagues, he struck out 74 times against just 11 walks. He was extremely aggressive during his time in the minor leagues, swinging nearly half the time and missing on pitches in the zone around 20% of the time. Rangers officials believe Jung was pressing a little bit and expect him to look a bit more like himself with further experience. That's especially true considering injuries and the pandemic have limited him to just 777 plate appearances in three seasons. Jung is mostly steady at third base but struggles on hard shots hit his way. He's got the body control and agility to make accurate throws from a variety of angles, which mitigates his below-average arm strength. He's a below-average runner.
The Future: The Rangers have the middle infield locked up for a long while, but they have a vacancy at third base. Jung will battle with Ezequiel Duran for the spot, but first base is an option, too.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50 -
Track Record: Jung was the Rangers’ first-round pick in 2019 out of Texas Tech, where he earned Big 12 conference co-player of the year honors as a junior. He signed for $4.4 million and spent 2020 at the alternate training site before seeing game action in instructional league. Jung’s 2021 season was delayed by a broken foot, but he recovered in time to still race up to Triple-A in his pro debut and hit .322 across the minors’ highest levels.
Scouting Report: Jung’s offensive profile took a big step forward in 2021. He worked to make contact earlier, and the result was an increase in pull-side power. He has big-time bat speed and plus raw power, which showed up in a 91.1 mph average exit velocity that was nearly the same as big league power brokers Pete Alonso and Jorge Soler. With his natural hitting gifts and approach adjustment, he now projects to be a plus hitter with plus power. Jung has worked hard to improve his defense and shows better first step and pre-pitch anticipation than he did in college. He is a below-average runner and is unlikely to be a standout at third base, but he should reach fringe-average with continued work. He has above-average arm strength and has worked to improve his throwing stroke. Jung is an exceptionally hard worker who used virtual reality to simulate at-bats while he rehabbed his broken foot and would often watch extended spring training games at the team’s complex in Arizona.
The Future: Unfortunately, Jung had shoulder surgery in February to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The estimated recovery time was about six months, which likely means he will miss the entirety of the regular season.
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Hitting: 60. Power: 60. Running: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
TRACK RECORD: The Rangers made Jung the eighth overall pick in 2019 after a star-studded career at Texas Tech. He signed for $4.4 million and got his feet wet with a productive but not flashy 44-game run in the Rookie-level Arizona League and at low Class A Hickory. With the minor league season canceled in 2020, Jung was added to the Rangers’ 60-man player pool and made the most of his time facing older, more experienced players at the alternate training site. He finished the year at instructional league, where he starred as one of the top hitters in Arizona.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Rangers believe Jung is going to hit in the middle of their lineup for years to come. His bat-to-ball skills are the best in the organization, and he works over pitchers during an at-bat. It’s not just his strike-zone judgment that stands out, but his ability to adjust within an at-bat. His ability to make contact, which might be his best tool, allows him to be aggressive early in counts and still line a ball into the gap if he falls behind. His hand speed fuels his ability to hit, and he has a sharp eye and an understanding of how to manipulate the barrel. Jung is going to be difficult to strike out, something that will stand out in the whiff-heavy Rangers lineup. The goal in 2020 was to transition Jung from simply a contact hitter, which he was in college, into a hitter who can do more damage. His power was mostly to right-center field at Texas Tech. He was that hitter again at low Class A, where he hit only one home run in 157 at-bats. Jung worked on pulling fastballs in 2020 and developed to the point where 30-homer power is possible. He should be around 20 homers on the low end, but when a game is on the line, Jung is the hitter the Rangers will want at the plate. Though he played shortstop his final season in Lubbock and flirted with second base during instructs, Jung is a third baseman. He’s not flashy, but he makes every play and has enough arm to handle the hot corner. His bat is going to force him into the lineup, and that helped influence the Rangers’ decision to move Gold Glove third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa to shortstop, where Elvis Andrus is on the decline and not performing consistently enough to warrant everyday playing time.
THE FUTURE: The Rangers need some prospects to become stars for their rebuild to be a success, and Jung has a strong chance. He has what it takes to be a solid regular and possibly an impact player. He will begin 2021 at Double-A, with a chance he makes his big league debut by the all-star break. -
TRACK RECORD: Jung was one of the best hitters in college baseball during his three seasons at Texas Tech. He was a first-team Freshman All-American in 2017, then a second-team All- American in both 2018 and 2019. The Rangers drafted Jung with the No. 8 overall pick in 2019 and signed him for $4.4 million. After a quick tune-up in the Rookie-level Arizona League, Jung went to the low Class A South Atlantic League in mid-July and helped Hickory capture the secondhalf crown in the Northern Division.
SCOUTING REPORT: Jung's bat is his calling card. He's calm and under control at the plate and stays inside the ball well with a short stroke and a straightaway hitting approach. He drives the ball well to the middle of the field and right-center field. He's a patient, disciplined hitter who walked more than he struck out in each of his final two college seasons. He recognizes pitches well and puts himself into favorable counts, though his bat-to-ball skills make him comfortable hitting in pitcher's counts. Jung has a chance to develop into a plus hitter, though the question is how much power he will have. Some scouts think he could have average power, but it's a hit-first profile, with Jung's approach geared for line drives and spreading the ball around the park rather than trying to turn on the ball for extra-base damage, and he hit only one home run in 40 games with Hickory, a team that plays its home games at power-friendly park. While a lot of teams had Jung stacked up as a middle of the first-round pick on their draft boards, the Rangers took him as high as they did in part because of their belief in his ability to develop more power. Defensively, Jung draws a split camp among scouts, but he should be able to provide average defense at third base. He moved from third base to shortstop his junior year at Texas Tech, but he went back to third base in pro ball. A below-average runner, Jung needs to improve his agility in the field, but his hands work well. He's good on the slow roller and he has a plus arm with the ability to make accurate throws on the run.
THE FUTURE: Jung should open the season at one of the Class A levels and could finish the year at Double-A Frisco. He has a chance to develop into a solid-average regular at third base with the upside for more if he can make the adjustments to unlock more game power. If not he should be a solid hit-over-power regular.
Draft Prospects
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Jung has been one of the most productive players in college baseball over the past three seasons. He was a first-team Freshman All-American in 2017 and a second-team All-American as a sophomore in 2018. His junior season has failed to reach the heights of his sophomore campaign, largely because he's not flirting with a .400 batting average. But even if his offensive statistics have dipped, scouts remain comfortable that Jung can be an above-average or plus hitter in the future. He is big and strong, but his approach at the plate emphasizes hitting for average over power. He has a solid awareness of the strike zone and is happy to work deep in counts. Falling behind doesn't seem to bother him either, as he's shown he can work back from disadvantaged counts. When Jung does get a quality pitch to hit, his swing is geared to drive the ball up the middle or to the right-center field gap. There are plenty of examples of hitters who learn how to pull the ball as pros, but without significant changes, Jung projects as having average power, at best. Some evaluators have concerns that part of his hit-over-power approach comes from his average bat speed. There are even larger debates among evaluators about his defense. Some scouts look at his tight hips and below-average foot speed and project he'll have to move to a corner outfield spot or first base. But Jung has good hands, an accurate, plus arm and the ability to throw on the run. He also does an excellent job charging in on balls. This season, the Red Raiders have moved Jung to shortstop and he's looked reasonably comfortable there, even if it's not a position he'll play as a pro. The most likely result is Jung ends up as an average third baseman. Jung's plate discipline, strong arm and his lengthy track record of hitting make him a likely middle-of-the-first-round pick, although the questions surrounding his agility and power potential stand in the way of him being considered in the absolute top tier of this year's college hitters.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Jung earned a promotion to Round Rock in late August and quickly became one of the league’s most dangerous hitters. He notched 23 extra-base hits in 35 games despite a pitcher-friendly home park. Jung showed exceptional strike-zone awareness, a polished, direct swing and the ability to hit pitches in any part of the zone. He primarily drove balls back up the middle or the opposite way into the right-center gap, but he made adjustments as the year went on and began pulling balls with authority. He punished fastballs and wasn’t fazed by velocity. Jung is occasionally a clunky defender at third base, but he anticipates well and converts routine plays. He is a hard worker who occasionally has to be pulled back so he doesn’t overdo it. -
Frisco finished tied for the second-best record in the league, but it missed the playoffs by virtue of a 5-6 head-to-head record against Northwest Arkansas. Jung was the team’s best pure hitter until he was promoted to Triple-A Round Rock. Jung is best at driving the ball up the middle. Eight of his 10 Double-A home runs were hit to center field, ranging from the left- to right-center power alleys. That up-the-middle approach also helps him avoid getting pull-happy and chasing pitches off the plate. Multiple evaluators noted how impressed they were with his ability to lay off borderline pitches in tough counts. Defensively, Jung is average at third base already and has a chance to eventually be an above-average defender. -
Jung was a productive third baseman and shortstop at Texas Tech. Drafted eighth overall in June, he quickly found himself in the thick of the South Atlantic League pennant race and helped Hickory earn the second-half Northern Division crown. Jung impressed defensively. He’s a big-bodied third baseman, but he shows excellent body control, soft hands and a plus, accurate arm. Offensively, he showed an advanced approach, but he struggles to fully take advantage of his significant strength. He understands the strike zone and draws walks, but his swing is entirely geared to driving the ball to right field and right-center. He has yet to show the ability to consistently pull an inside pitch.
Top 100 Rankings
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Hitter for Average in the Texas Rangers in 2020
Scouting Reports
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BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: When Jung stays healthy, he hits. Unfortunately, he's had serious trouble staying on the field since being drafted eighth overall out of Texas Tech in 2019. After earning co-Big 12 Conference player of the year honors in his draft season, Jung signed for $4.4 million, then spent what would have been his first full season as a pro at the Rangers' alternate training site in 2020. A broken foot limited him to 78 games in 2021 and shoulder surgery delayed the start of his 2022 season until July 28. Nonetheless, he recovered in time to make his big league debut on Sept. 9. He hit five home runs in 26 games, including one against 2021 American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray.
Scouting Report: The 2022 season was the first time Jung showed real weakness at the plate. Between Triple-A and the big leagues, he struck out 74 times against just 11 walks. He was extremely aggressive during his time in the minor leagues, swinging nearly half the time and missing on pitches in the zone around 20% of the time. Rangers officials believe Jung was pressing a little bit and expect him to look a bit more like himself with further experience. That's especially true considering injuries and the pandemic have limited him to just 777 plate appearances in three seasons. Jung is mostly steady at third base but struggles on hard shots hit his way. He's got the body control and agility to make accurate throws from a variety of angles, which mitigates his below-average arm strength. He's a below-average runner.
The Future: The Rangers have the middle infield locked up for a long while, but they have a vacancy at third base. Jung will battle with Ezequiel Duran for the spot, but first base is an option, too.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50 -
BA Grade/Risk: 55/High
Track Record: When Jung stays healthy, he hits. Unfortunately, he's had serious trouble staying on the field since being drafted eighth overall out of Texas Tech in 2019. After earning co-Big 12 Conference player of the year honors in his draft season, Jung signed for $4.4 million, then spent what would have been his first full season as a pro at the Rangers' alternate training site in 2020. A broken foot limited him to 78 games in 2021 and shoulder surgery delayed the start of his 2022 season until July 28. Nonetheless, he recovered in time to make his big league debut on Sept. 9. He hit five home runs in 26 games, including one against 2021 American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray.
Scouting Report: The 2022 season was the first time Jung showed real weakness at the plate. Between Triple-A and the big leagues, he struck out 74 times against just 11 walks. He was extremely aggressive during his time in the minor leagues, swinging nearly half the time and missing on pitches in the zone around 20% of the time. Rangers officials believe Jung was pressing a little bit and expect him to look a bit more like himself with further experience. That's especially true considering injuries and the pandemic have limited him to just 777 plate appearances in three seasons. Jung is mostly steady at third base but struggles on hard shots hit his way. He's got the body control and agility to make accurate throws from a variety of angles, which mitigates his below-average arm strength. He's a below-average runner.
The Future: The Rangers have the middle infield locked up for a long while, but they have a vacancy at third base. Jung will battle with Ezequiel Duran for the spot, but first base is an option, too.
Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50 -
BA Grade: 55/High
Track Record: Jung was the Rangers' first-round pick in 2019 out of Texas Tech, where he spent three seasons and earned Big 12 conference co-player of the year honors in his draft year. He signed for $4.4 million. Jung spent 2020 at Texas' alternate training site before seeing game action in instructional league. His 2021 season was delayed by a broken foot, but he recovered in time to show his development into a more complete hitter.
Scouting Report: Jung's offensive profile took a big step forward in 2021. He worked to make contact earlier, and the result was an increase in pull-side power. He has big-time bat speed and plus raw power, which showed up in a 91.1 mph average exit velocity that tied for second in the organization and was nearly the same as big league power brokers Pete Alonso and Jorge Soler. While he rehabbed his foot injury, he used virtual reality to simulate at-bats and would often watch extended spring training games at the team's complex in Arizona. Jung has worked hard to up his game defensively and shown a better first step and pre-pitch anticipation. He's unlikely to be a standout at third base, but he should reach fringe-average with continued work. He has the arm strength to stick at third base, too, and has worked to improve his throwing stroke. Jung is a below-average runner.
The Future: After a standout look at the upper levels, Jung will likely start 2022 at Triple-A Round Rock and should push for his big league debut. He has the ceiling of a third baseman who fits nicely in the middle of the Rangers' remade lineup.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55. -
Track Record: Jung was the Rangers’ first-round pick in 2019 out of Texas Tech, where he earned Big 12 conference co-player of the year honors as a junior. He signed for $4.4 million and spent 2020 at the alternate training site before seeing game action in instructional league. Jung’s 2021 season was delayed by a broken foot, but he recovered in time to still race up to Triple-A in his pro debut and hit .322 across the minors’ highest levels.
Scouting Report: Jung’s offensive profile took a big step forward in 2021. He worked to make contact earlier, and the result was an increase in pull-side power. He has big-time bat speed and plus raw power, which showed up in a 91.1 mph average exit velocity that was nearly the same as big league power brokers Pete Alonso and Jorge Soler. With his natural hitting gifts and approach adjustment, he now projects to be a plus hitter with plus power. Jung has worked hard to improve his defense and shows better first step and pre-pitch anticipation than he did in college. He is a below-average runner and is unlikely to be a standout at third base, but he should reach fringe-average with continued work. He has above-average arm strength and has worked to improve his throwing stroke. Jung is an exceptionally hard worker who used virtual reality to simulate at-bats while he rehabbed his broken foot and would often watch extended spring training games at the team’s complex in Arizona.
The Future: Unfortunately, Jung had shoulder surgery in February to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The estimated recovery time was about six months, which likely means he will miss the entirety of the regular season.
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Frisco finished tied for the second-best record in the league, but it missed the playoffs by virtue of a 5-6 head-to-head record against Northwest Arkansas. Jung was the team’s best pure hitter until he was promoted to Triple-A Round Rock. Jung is best at driving the ball up the middle. Eight of his 10 Double-A home runs were hit to center field, ranging from the left- to right-center power alleys. That up-the-middle approach also helps him avoid getting pull-happy and chasing pitches off the plate. Multiple evaluators noted how impressed they were with his ability to lay off borderline pitches in tough counts. Defensively, Jung is average at third base already and has a chance to eventually be an above-average defender. -
Jung earned a promotion to Round Rock in late August and quickly became one of the league’s most dangerous hitters. He notched 23 extra-base hits in 35 games despite a pitcher-friendly home park. Jung showed exceptional strike-zone awareness, a polished, direct swing and the ability to hit pitches in any part of the zone. He primarily drove balls back up the middle or the opposite way into the right-center gap, but he made adjustments as the year went on and began pulling balls with authority. He punished fastballs and wasn’t fazed by velocity. Jung is occasionally a clunky defender at third base, but he anticipates well and converts routine plays. He is a hard worker who occasionally has to be pulled back so he doesn’t overdo it. -
Hitting: 60. Power: 60. Running: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
TRACK RECORD: The Rangers made Jung the eighth overall pick in 2019 after a star-studded career at Texas Tech. He signed for $4.4 million and got his feet wet with a productive but not flashy 44-game run in the Rookie-level Arizona League and at low Class A Hickory. With the minor league season canceled in 2020, Jung was added to the Rangers' 60-man player pool and made the most of his time facing older, more experienced players at the alternate training site. He finished the year at instructional league, where he starred as one of the top hitters in Arizona.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Rangers believe Jung is going to hit in the middle of their lineup for years to come. His bat-to-ball skills are the best in the organization, and he works over pitchers during an at-bat. It's not just his strike-zone judgment that stands out, but his ability to adjust within an at-bat. His ability to make contact, which might be his best tool, allows him to be aggressive early in counts and still line a ball into the gap if he falls behind. His hand speed fuels his ability to hit, and he has a sharp eye and an understanding of how to manipulate the barrel. Jung is going to be difficult to strike out, something that will stand out in the whiff-heavy Rangers lineup. The goal in 2020 was to transition Jung from simply a contact hitter, which he was in college, into a hitter who can do more damage. His power was mostly to right-center field at Texas Tech. He was that hitter again at low Class A, where he hit only one home run in 157 at-bats. Jung worked on pulling fastballs in 2020 and developed to the point where 30-homer power is possible. He should be around 20 homers on the low end, but when a game is on the line, Jung is the hitter the Rangers will want at the plate. Though he played shortstop his final season in Lubbock and flirted with second base during instructs, Jung is a third baseman. He's not flashy, but he makes every play and has enough arm to handle the hot corner. His bat is going to force him into the lineup, and that helped influence the Rangers' decision to move Gold Glove third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa to shortstop, where Elvis Andrus is on the decline and not performing consistently enough to warrant everyday playing time.
THE FUTURE: The Rangers need some prospects to become stars for their rebuild to be a success, and Jung has a strong chance. He has what it takes to be a solid regular and possibly an impact player. He will begin 2021 at Double-A, with a chance he makes his big league debut by the all-star break. -
Hitting: 60. Power: 60. Running: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
TRACK RECORD: The Rangers made Jung the eighth overall pick in 2019 after a star-studded career at Texas Tech. He signed for $4.4 million and got his feet wet with a productive but not flashy 44-game run in the Rookie-level Arizona League and at low Class A Hickory. With the minor league season canceled in 2020, Jung was added to the Rangers’ 60-man player pool and made the most of his time facing older, more experienced players at the alternate training site. He finished the year at instructional league, where he starred as one of the top hitters in Arizona.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Rangers believe Jung is going to hit in the middle of their lineup for years to come. His bat-to-ball skills are the best in the organization, and he works over pitchers during an at-bat. It’s not just his strike-zone judgment that stands out, but his ability to adjust within an at-bat. His ability to make contact, which might be his best tool, allows him to be aggressive early in counts and still line a ball into the gap if he falls behind. His hand speed fuels his ability to hit, and he has a sharp eye and an understanding of how to manipulate the barrel. Jung is going to be difficult to strike out, something that will stand out in the whiff-heavy Rangers lineup. The goal in 2020 was to transition Jung from simply a contact hitter, which he was in college, into a hitter who can do more damage. His power was mostly to right-center field at Texas Tech. He was that hitter again at low Class A, where he hit only one home run in 157 at-bats. Jung worked on pulling fastballs in 2020 and developed to the point where 30-homer power is possible. He should be around 20 homers on the low end, but when a game is on the line, Jung is the hitter the Rangers will want at the plate. Though he played shortstop his final season in Lubbock and flirted with second base during instructs, Jung is a third baseman. He’s not flashy, but he makes every play and has enough arm to handle the hot corner. His bat is going to force him into the lineup, and that helped influence the Rangers’ decision to move Gold Glove third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa to shortstop, where Elvis Andrus is on the decline and not performing consistently enough to warrant everyday playing time.
THE FUTURE: The Rangers need some prospects to become stars for their rebuild to be a success, and Jung has a strong chance. He has what it takes to be a solid regular and possibly an impact player. He will begin 2021 at Double-A, with a chance he makes his big league debut by the all-star break. -
Hitting: 60. Power: 60. Running: 40. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
TRACK RECORD: The Rangers made Jung the eighth overall pick in 2019 after a star-studded career at Texas Tech. He signed for $4.4 million and got his feet wet with a productive but not flashy 44-game run in the Rookie-level Arizona League and at low Class A Hickory. With the minor league season canceled in 2020, Jung was added to the Rangers’ 60-man player pool and made the most of his time facing older, more experienced players at the alternate training site. He finished the year at instructional league, where he starred as one of the top hitters in Arizona.
SCOUTING REPORT: The Rangers believe Jung is going to hit in the middle of their lineup for years to come. His bat-to-ball skills are the best in the organization, and he works over pitchers during an at-bat. It’s not just his strike-zone judgment that stands out, but his ability to adjust within an at-bat. His ability to make contact, which might be his best tool, allows him to be aggressive early in counts and still line a ball into the gap if he falls behind. His hand speed fuels his ability to hit, and he has a sharp eye and an understanding of how to manipulate the barrel. Jung is going to be difficult to strike out, something that will stand out in the whiff-heavy Rangers lineup. The goal in 2020 was to transition Jung from simply a contact hitter, which he was in college, into a hitter who can do more damage. His power was mostly to right-center field at Texas Tech. He was that hitter again at low Class A, where he hit only one home run in 157 at-bats. Jung worked on pulling fastballs in 2020 and developed to the point where 30-homer power is possible. He should be around 20 homers on the low end, but when a game is on the line, Jung is the hitter the Rangers will want at the plate. Though he played shortstop his final season in Lubbock and flirted with second base during instructs, Jung is a third baseman. He’s not flashy, but he makes every play and has enough arm to handle the hot corner. His bat is going to force him into the lineup, and that helped influence the Rangers’ decision to move Gold Glove third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa to shortstop, where Elvis Andrus is on the decline and not performing consistently enough to warrant everyday playing time.
THE FUTURE: The Rangers need some prospects to become stars for their rebuild to be a success, and Jung has a strong chance. He has what it takes to be a solid regular and possibly an impact player. He will begin 2021 at Double-A, with a chance he makes his big league debut by the all-star break. -
TRACK RECORD: Jung was one of the best hitters in college baseball during his three seasons at Texas Tech. He was a first-team Freshman All-American in 2017, then a second-team All- American in both 2018 and 2019. The Rangers drafted Jung with the No. 8 overall pick in 2019 and signed him for $4.4 million. After a quick tune-up in the Rookie-level Arizona League, Jung went to the low Class A South Atlantic League in mid-July and helped Hickory capture the secondhalf crown in the Northern Division.
SCOUTING REPORT: Jung’s bat is his calling card. He’s calm and under control at the plate and stays inside the ball well with a short stroke and a straightaway hitting approach. He drives the ball well to the middle of the field and right-center field. He’s a patient, disciplined hitter who walked more than he struck out in each of his final two college seasons. He recognizes pitches well and puts himself into favorable counts, though his bat-to-ball skills make him comfortable hitting in pitcher’s counts. Jung has a chance to develop into a plus hitter, though the question is how much power he will have. Some scouts think he could have average power, but it’s a hit-first profile, with Jung’s approach geared for line drives and spreading the ball around the park rather than trying to turn on the ball for extra-base damage, and he hit only one home run in 40 games with Hickory, a team that plays its home games at power-friendly park. While a lot of teams had Jung stacked up as a middle of the first-round pick on their draft boards, the Rangers took him as high as they did in part because of their belief in his ability to develop more power. Defensively, Jung draws a split camp among scouts, but he should be able to provide average defense at third base. He moved from third base to shortstop his junior year at Texas Tech, but he went back to third base in pro ball. A below-average runner, Jung needs to improve his agility in the field, but his hands work well. He’s good on the slow roller and he has a plus arm with the ability to make accurate throws on the run.
THE FUTURE: Jung should open the season at one of the Class A levels and could finish the year at Double-A Frisco. He has a chance to develop into a solid-average regular at third base with the upside for more if he can make the adjustments to unlock more game power. If not he should be a solid hit-over-power regular. SCOUTING GRADES Hit: 60. Power: 50. Run: 40. Field: 50. Arm: 60. BA GRADE 55 Risk: High -
TRACK RECORD: Jung was one of the best hitters in college baseball during his three seasons at Texas Tech. He was a first-team Freshman All-American in 2017, then a second-team All- American in both 2018 and 2019. The Rangers drafted Jung with the No. 8 overall pick in 2019 and signed him for $4.4 million. After a quick tune-up in the Rookie-level Arizona League, Jung went to the low Class A South Atlantic League in mid-July and helped Hickory capture the secondhalf crown in the Northern Division.
SCOUTING REPORT: Jung's bat is his calling card. He's calm and under control at the plate and stays inside the ball well with a short stroke and a straightaway hitting approach. He drives the ball well to the middle of the field and right-center field. He's a patient, disciplined hitter who walked more than he struck out in each of his final two college seasons. He recognizes pitches well and puts himself into favorable counts, though his bat-to-ball skills make him comfortable hitting in pitcher's counts. Jung has a chance to develop into a plus hitter, though the question is how much power he will have. Some scouts think he could have average power, but it's a hit-first profile, with Jung's approach geared for line drives and spreading the ball around the park rather than trying to turn on the ball for extra-base damage, and he hit only one home run in 40 games with Hickory, a team that plays its home games at power-friendly park. While a lot of teams had Jung stacked up as a middle of the first-round pick on their draft boards, the Rangers took him as high as they did in part because of their belief in his ability to develop more power. Defensively, Jung draws a split camp among scouts, but he should be able to provide average defense at third base. He moved from third base to shortstop his junior year at Texas Tech, but he went back to third base in pro ball. A below-average runner, Jung needs to improve his agility in the field, but his hands work well. He's good on the slow roller and he has a plus arm with the ability to make accurate throws on the run.
THE FUTURE: Jung should open the season at one of the Class A levels and could finish the year at Double-A Frisco. He has a chance to develop into a solid-average regular at third base with the upside for more if he can make the adjustments to unlock more game power. If not he should be a solid hit-over-power regular. -
Jung was a productive third baseman and shortstop at Texas Tech. Drafted eighth overall in June, he quickly found himself in the thick of the South Atlantic League pennant race and helped Hickory earn the second-half Northern Division crown. Jung impressed defensively. He’s a big-bodied third baseman, but he shows excellent body control, soft hands and a plus, accurate arm. Offensively, he showed an advanced approach, but he struggles to fully take advantage of his significant strength. He understands the strike zone and draws walks, but his swing is entirely geared to driving the ball to right field and right-center. He has yet to show the ability to consistently pull an inside pitch. -
Jung has been one of the most productive players in college baseball over the past three seasons. He was a first-team Freshman All-American in 2017 and a second-team All-American as a sophomore in 2018. His junior season has failed to reach the heights of his sophomore campaign, largely because he's not flirting with a .400 batting average. But even if his offensive statistics have dipped, scouts remain comfortable that Jung can be an above-average or plus hitter in the future. He is big and strong, but his approach at the plate emphasizes hitting for average over power. He has a solid awareness of the strike zone and is happy to work deep in counts. Falling behind doesn't seem to bother him either, as he's shown he can work back from disadvantaged counts. When Jung does get a quality pitch to hit, his swing is geared to drive the ball up the middle or to the right-center field gap. There are plenty of examples of hitters who learn how to pull the ball as pros, but without significant changes, Jung projects as having average power, at best. Some evaluators have concerns that part of his hit-over-power approach comes from his average bat speed. There are even larger debates among evaluators about his defense. Some scouts look at his tight hips and below-average foot speed and project he'll have to move to a corner outfield spot or first base. But Jung has good hands, an accurate, plus arm and the ability to throw on the run. He also does an excellent job charging in on balls. This season, the Red Raiders have moved Jung to shortstop and he's looked reasonably comfortable there, even if it's not a position he'll play as a pro. The most likely result is Jung ends up as an average third baseman. Jung's plate discipline, strong arm and his lengthy track record of hitting make him a likely middle-of-the-first-round pick, although the questions surrounding his agility and power potential stand in the way of him being considered in the absolute top tier of this year's college hitters.
Career Transactions
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Texas Rangers transferred 3B Josh Jung from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
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Texas Rangers placed 3B Josh Jung on the 10-day injured list. Right wrist fracture.
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Texas Rangers placed 3B Josh Jung on the 10-day injured list. Left thumb fracture.
