ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung jogged again Thursday, a third straight day of running, and has been doing every other part of his baseball work while the calf is brought along last, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.
Jung described Thursday’s running as “linear with two arcs,” Landry reported. Running the bases is the step that comes after that, and clearing it would make him a full go.
Live batting practice has also been part of Jung’s work, including at-bats against left-hander Robert Garcia.
Garcia’s last game appearance came April 16 at the Athletics, when he faced one batter and got the out in a 9-6 Texas win. The Rangers put him on the 15-day injured list April 23, retroactive to April 20, because of left rotator cuff inflammation. His move to the 60-day IL came May 31. Through 9 appearances this season, Garcia has pitched 8 innings with a 3.38 ERA. He is 0-1 with 7 walks and 6 strikeouts.
Josh Jung Jogged Monday For The First Time Since The Last Homestand
Jung’s first jog since the Rangers’ previous homestand came Monday before the series opener against the Athletics at Globe Life Field. Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said a minor league rehab assignment could come “right after that” if the ramp-up goes well this week, according to The Dallas Morning News.
July 21 against the Chicago White Sox remains Jung’s most recent game. He singled and scored in the third inning before coming out. Four days later, Texas put him on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 22, with a left calf strain. Infielder Josh Smith was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock.
Josh Jung Led Texas In Hits When He Went On The Injured List
Jung was hitting .294/.361/.441 through 92 games when the calf injury sidelined him. He had 9 home runs and 35 RBIs. At that point, his 104 hits, 23 doubles, 46 runs, and .802 OPS all led the Rangers.
Jung has dealt with the same calf before. A left calf strain took away most of his 2024 spring training. Another calf problem in 2025 kept him out for four games. He did not go on the injured list for either one.
Most of the third-base work since Jung went down has gone to Ezequiel Durán. Durán is hitting .273 this season with 15 home runs and 123 hits.
Jung is on a one-year, $2.9 million deal and will be arbitration eligible again in 2027. Texas selected him eighth overall out of Texas Tech in the 2019 draft. He made the American League All-Star team in 2023, then served as the Rangers’ regular third baseman during their World Series run that fall.
Texas Rangers Open Series Against Tampa Bay Rays
Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi threw a bullpen session Thursday that went well, the same afternoon Jung ran. Eovaldi has been on the 15-day injured list since Aug. 10, retroactive to Aug. 9, with right posterior elbow inflammation.
At 69-71, Texas is second in the AL West behind the Houston Astros, who are 72-69. First pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays is 7:05 p.m. CT Thursday at Globe Life Field. Rangers Sports Network carries the broadcast.
