The Texas Rangers suffered a significant blow on Monday night when third baseman Josh Jung sustained a fractured right wrist after being hit by a pitch. This injury opened up an opportunity for one of the team’s top prospects, Justin Foscue, who was called up to join the team for Tuesday’s game, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy confirmed the diagnosis of a fractured wrist and stated that it is unclear how long Jung will be out, as surgery may be a factor in his recovery timeline. Before being sidelined, Jung had a strong start to the season, batting .412 with a 1.415 OPS, two home runs, and six RBI in his first 19 plate appearances. Last season, he had a .266 average and .781 OPS with 23 homers, 25 doubles, and 70 RBI. However, injuries have troubled Jung in the past, with a fractured thumb and calf issues in previous seasons.
Foscue is a 25-year-old first-round pick in 2020 who has the ability to play first, second, and third base. He will be filling in for Jung while also gaining valuable experience in the majors for the team. Last year in Triple-A Round Rock, Foscue had an impressive season where he batted .308 with 15 homers and 79 RBI. He almost made the big-league roster during spring training but this injury gives him another chance to prove himself on the field while contributing to his team’s success.
The Rangers have other infield options like Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith who can take over at third base in Jung’s absence. Duran has played well so far this season with a batting average of .300 and an OPS of .909 with three home runs and nine RBI.
In conclusion this injury has opened up an opportunity for Foscue to gain valuable experience while also filling in for an injured player like Jung who has struggled with injuries in past seasons. The Rangers have other options such as Ezequiel Duran and Josh Smith but they are likely to rely on Foscue’s versatility to fill out their lineup while managing Jung’s injury recovery timeline
