Texas Rangers Give Optimistic News About Josh Jung's Return

The All-Star rookie third baseman Josh Jung has been on the injured list since Aug. 7.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers rookie Josh Jung could be back sooner than expected.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Jung could possibly return next weekend when the club is in Cleveland.

The All-Star third baseman has been on the injured list with a fractured left thumb since Aug. 7. He's scheduled to have a follow-up exam by a hand specialist early next week.

If the healing process has progressed enough, he could be cleared to return to the lineup. A return next weekend at the Cleveland Guardians would be about a week earlier than originally expected.

"A couple days ago, I saw him in the cage, swinging a bat, and I went, 'Whoa,'" Bochy said, according to MLB.com. "We all were shocked – our trainer, our hitting guys."

Jung took 25 swings off a tee before Friday's series opener against the Oakland Athletics at Globe Life Field, according to reports. Jung told reporters that his thumb remains slightly numb from the injury.

Jung would possibly need some kind of rehab assignment in order to get some swings in before coming back. Triple-A Round Rock’s season goes until Sept. 24.

Jung suffered the fracture on Sunday against Miami on Aug. 6 when a line drive traveling nearly 110 mph hit the thumb part of his glove. Jung was batting .274 with 22 home runs, 24 doubles, and 67 RBI in 109 games before the injury. 

An injury update on Josh Jung and Nathan Eovaldi ⬇️
@Rangers | #StraightUpTX | 📺: BSSW pic.twitter.com/SehMQMZg0s

— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) September 1, 2023

---

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.