Rangers replacing injured Josh Jung with top prospect Justin Foscue
The Texas Rangers lost one of their best hitters Monday when third baseman Josh Jung suffered a fractured right wrist on a hit by a pitch.
That unfortunate event presented an opportunity for one of the team's top prospects. Infielder Justin Foscue was called up and will join the team for Tuesday's game, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported.
The Texas Rangers are calling up top prospect Justin Foscue, sources tell ESPN. Foscue, 25, was a first-round pick in 2020 and can play first, second and third base. He’ll fill the roster spot of Josh Jung, whose right wrist was broken when a pitch hit it Monday.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 2, 2024
Jung was injured while swinging at a pitch from Tampa Bay Rays reliever Phil Maton in the ninth inning. The second-year star immediately left the game and was quickly diagnosed with a fractured wrist, according to Rangers manager Bruce Bochy.
Rangers general manager Chris Young told reporters Thursday that Jung's surgery revealed more damage and he is now looking at a return in 8-10 weeks.
Josh Jung was hit by a pitch earlier in today's game and exited.
He suffered a fractured wrist, per Bruce Bochy. pic.twitter.com/SZ6D4Vgo9v— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 2, 2024
The third baseman was off to a blazing start for the reigning World Series champions, batting .412 with a 1.415 OPS, two home runs and six RBI in his first 19 plate appearances of the season. Before leaving Monday's game, Jung was 3-for-4 with a home run, stolen base and four RBI.
Last year, he compiled a .266 average and .781 OPS with 23 homers, 25 doubles and 70 RBI. He finished fourth in American League Rookie of the Year balloting in his first full MLB season. However, injuries have been an issue for Jung. He was out for six weeks last season due to a fractured left thumb and struggled with a calf injury this spring.
The Rangers have infield depth with Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith, and Duran is expected to take over for Jung at third base. Still, the injury gives Texas a chance to give Foscue some major-league at-bats, mostly at first base against left-handed pitching.
Rated the team's No. 5 prospect by MLB.com, Foscue, 25, batted .266 with an .862 OPS, 18 home runs, 31 doubles, 84 RBI and 14 steals for Triple-A Round Rock last season. A 2020 first-round pick out of Mississippi State, he nearly made the big-league roster out of spring training.
