MINNEAPOLIS — X-rays taken after the Texas Rangers lost 10-2 to the Minnesota Twins on Friday night showed a fracture in the fifth metacarpal of Josh Jung’s right hand, Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. The Rangers planned more testing on Saturday before deciding on his status, with two games left in the regular season.
Twins starter Joe Ryan hit Jung with a 94.6 mph four-seam fastball in the first inning at Target Field. Jung stayed in the game to run the bases and scored on a grounder by Wyatt Langford for a 2-0 Texas lead. Alejandro Osuna pinch-hit for him in the third inning.
Jung knew the bone was broken as soon as the pitch hit him. After the game, his right hand was strapped into a black soft cast.
“Devastated … period,” Jung said.
Josh Jung’s Fracture Comes Less Than Two Weeks After His Return
Jung started at designated hitter on Friday. He had come off the injured list on Sept. 12 after missing 46 games with a left calf strain, and he slashed .341/.383/.636 with 3 home runs and 7 RBI in that span before Friday. On the season, he is hitting .299/.365/.462 with 12 home runs and 42 RBI in 104 games.
Entering Friday, the Rangers were 53-50 with Jung in the lineup and 26-30 without him, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reported. The calf strain was his second trip to the injured list this season. Jung also missed time from early May to early June after being diagnosed with viral meningitis.
In 2024, a pitch hit Jung on the right wrist during the first week of the season at Tampa Bay. That fracture cost him much of the year and required multiple surgeries. Jung estimated Friday’s break is about three inches from the 2024 injury, The Dallas Morning News reported. During his first full season in 2023, he missed six weeks with a fractured left thumb.
Skip Schumaker On Losing Josh Jung And Joc Pederson
Texas was already without designated hitter Joc Pederson, who was hit by a pitch at Chase Field on Sept. 12 and later found to have a small fracture in his left hand. The Rangers placed Pederson on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, retroactive to Sept. 19, and are aiming to have him back for the start of the AL Wild Card Series, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reported. Pederson is hitting .235/.329/.487 with 26 home runs and 53 RBI.
In his postgame news conference, carried on Rangers Sports Network, Schumaker said Jung and Pederson are two of the Rangers’ best hitters at the top of the order. Both are now out with fractures in the final weekend.
“The initial X-ray was a fracture. So we’re going to get obviously more testing done and see what happens with other testing that’s involved,” Schumaker said. “But if he’s out, that’s pretty significant.”
“Him and Joc, both with hand fractures or wrist fractures, and not ideal at this time of the year,” Schumaker continued. “But still gotta go. We have two games left, and we gotta figure this thing out.”
Texas and the Houston Astros are tied atop the AL West at 79-81, and Houston holds the tiebreaker. Schumaker said the Rangers have to find a way to move on.
“It’s never easy when you see one of your best players go down,” Schumaker explained. “Between him and Joc the last two weeks. That part’s frustrating. Two of our best guys in the top of the order that you’re no longer with.”
“You feel for [Jung]. But you have to figure out a way to move on,” Schumaker added. “Tomorrow is obviously the biggest game of the year.”
Nathan Eovaldi (11-10, 4.27 ERA) starts for Texas on Saturday against Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (7-6, 4.21 ERA). First pitch at Target Field is set for 3:10 p.m. CT.
