Wearing Glove Big Step for Injured Texas Rangers Rookie Josh Jung

Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung continued to make progress towards a return from his thumb injury.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers third baseman put a glove on his left hand and fielded tossed ground balls on Sunday, the latest development in his recovery from a fractured left thumb.

Putting on a glove was a big deal for the rookie as he continues to get in a position to rejoin the Rangers at some point this season.

“He’s really started to pick it up,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “You get to a point after surgery when you start to make all of this progress, so we have to keep a watchful eye on it. But he’s on his way.”

On Friday, Bochy said that Jung was is “two to three weeks away” from taking the field. He stood by that timeline on Sunday.

“I’ll be honest — I’m confident he’ll be ready within three weeks,” Bochy said.

If three weeks is the timeline from Friday, then Jung would theoretically be ready to play around Sept. 21. Bochy made it clear on Friday that he believes Jung will need some kind of rehab assignment in order to get some swings before coming back.

Triple-A Round Rock’s season goes until Sept. 24 and they wrap up in Tacoma, which could be ideal for Jung to easily meet the Rangers for their final week of the season.

After wrapping up their last homestand with Seattle on Sept. 24, the Rangers go to the west coast for the final week, playing three games each against the Los Angeles Angels and Mariners.

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. The All-Star starter was slashing .274/.323/.489/.812 with 22 home runs and 67 RBI.

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