Watch: Texas Rangers Slugger Josh Jung Hits Rookie HR Milestone

Josh Jung joined a select group of Texas Rangers after hitting his latest home run on Monday night against the Houston Astros.

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung hit his 20th home run on Monday, making him the sixth rookie in club history to reach that milestone in a season.

Jung hit the home run in the first inning against the Houston Astros and off starter Brandon Bielak. Jung swung at and connected on the fifth offering from Bielak, a 92.2-mph sinker.

Jung got a little under it, but he hit it high and long, 365 feet to the Crawford Boxes in left field at Minute Maid Park.

20 FOR THE ROOK! #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/pW6Y7SjJl0

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 25, 2023

He didn’t just become the sixth Rangers rookie to hit 20 home runs in a season, he also set a Texas Tech record for most single-season home runs by a former Red Raider in the Majors. Jung played for Texas Tech, where he was an All-American, before the Rangers drafted him in the first round in 2019.

Jung is tied for the fifth-most home runs by a Rangers rookie, as Nomar Mazara hit 20 home runs in his rookie season in 2016.

Dave Hostetler — who became a short-lived legend with the Rangers after an incredible start in June of 1982 — finished with 22 home runs as a rookie that season. He held the mark until Pete Incaviglia overtook him with 30 home runs in 1986.

Mark Teixeira came close to Incaviglia in 2003, when he hit 26 home runs as a rookie. But Adolis García holds the team record for most home runs in a rookie season with 31, which came in 2021.

Jung has 59 games to track García down.

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