It was just four games. That’s all it took in April 2024 for the air to completely leave the balloon in Arlington. Josh Jung had just rounded the bases for his second home run of the season, looking every bit like the All-Star cornerstone the Texas Rangers built their championship infield around. Then came the Phil Maton pitch. A swinging strike, a sickening crack, and a fractured right wrist.
Baseball is cruel like that.
If you look at the back of Jung’s baseball card today, the numbers might look a little concerning to the casual observer. A .251 average in 2025. Only 14 home runs across 131 games. For a guy who was supposed to be the next great power-hitting third baseman, those stats don't exactly scream "superstar." But if you’re judging Josh Jung solely on his 2025 stat line, you’re missing the most important part of the story.
Honestly, it’s a miracle he played 131 games at all.
The Reality of the Wrist: Why 2025 Was a "Reset" Year
Most fans don't realize how much a wrist injury nukes a power hitter’s swing. It isn’t just about the bone healing; it’s about the "pop." When Jung returned from that fracture and subsequent surgery, he wasn't the same guy. He couldn't be.
By March 2025, he actually had to undergo a second procedure—an ECU tendon release—just to get the wrist functioning without constant discomfort. Think about that. He went into the 2025 season with a surgically repaired wrist that had been sliced open twice in less than a year.
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The result? His slugging percentage dipped to .390. He struggled through a massive slump in July that actually saw him briefly demoted to the minors to find his timing. People started whispering the "B" word. Bust.
But then August happened.
Between August 28 and August 31, 2025, Jung went on a tear that reminded everyone why he was an All-Star in 2023. He had three straight three-hit games. He was hitting over .500 during a week-long stretch. It was a glimpse of the old Josh Jung—the guy who finished fourth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting and helped bring a World Series trophy to Texas.
Breaking Down the Numbers
To understand why the Texas Rangers are still all-in on Jung, you have to look past the surface-level batting average.
- Strikeout Rate: Even when he was struggling in 2024, his strikeout rate was 25.5%, a career low. He’s making more contact than ever.
- The "Lefty" Factor: Since 2023, Jung has maintained a +16% OPS advantage against left-handed pitching. He remains a certified lefty-killer.
- Durability: Despite the "injury-prone" label, he logged 131 games in 2025. That was a career-high. The wrist held up, even if the power hadn't fully returned yet.
What Really Happened with the Rangers' 2026 Strategy
As we head into 2026, the narrative around Josh Jung is shifting from "Can he stay healthy?" to "How much is he worth?"
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In early January 2026, Jung and the Rangers avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal. While the exact figures weren't shouted from the rooftops, estimates put it around $2.4 million. This is a massive "prove-it" year. The Rangers have a lot of money tied up in Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. They need Jung to be the high-value, home-grown producer he was projected to be.
The 2025 season was basically a long, painful rehab assignment at the Major League level. He spent months trying to find a swing that didn't hurt. By the time September rolled around, he was still scuffling (hitting just .184 that month), but the organization saw what they needed to see: he could handle the workload.
The Jace Jung Connection
It’s also worth noting the mental side of things. Josh isn’t the only Jung in the big leagues anymore. His brother, Jace Jung, is carving out his own path with the Detroit Tigers. There’s a quiet competitive fire there. When you talk to scouts who have watched both, they’ll tell you Josh has the higher ceiling defensively. His glove at third base has remained steady even when his bat was cold. That’s what keeps you in the lineup when you’re hitting .250.
Why 2026 is the True Breakout
If you’re a betting person, 2026 is the year you want to buy stock in Josh Jung.
Why? Because for the first time in three years, he had a "normal" offseason. No surgeries. No rehab. Just strength training and cage work. When a hitter has two years of wrist issues, they often compensate by using too much of their bottom hand or changing their grip, which ruins their natural launch angle.
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A full winter of muscle memory correction is exactly what the doctor ordered.
The Rangers' lineup is still dangerous, but it’s top-heavy. If Jung can return to the 25-30 home run pace he showed in 2023, the Rangers go from a "maybe" Wild Card team to a legitimate threat to the Astros in the AL West.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
So, what should we actually look for when the 2026 season kicks off? It’s not the home runs. Not yet.
- Watch the Exit Velocity: In early 2025, Jung’s hard-hit rate took a dive. If he’s back to 105+ MPH off the bat in April, the wrist is 100%.
- Pull Side Power: When Jung is right, he drives the ball to the left-center gap. If he’s constantly slicing balls to right field, he’s still protecting that wrist.
- The Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio: He’s never going to be Juan Soto, but if he keeps that K-rate near 25% while increasing his walks (which hovered around 5-6% recently), he becomes an elite offensive threat.
Josh Jung isn't a finished product. He's a 27-year-old who has had more bad luck in three years than most players have in a decade. But the talent that made him the 8th overall pick in 2019 hasn't disappeared. It’s just been waiting for his body to catch up.
Expect a major bounce-back. The Rangers are counting on it.
Next Steps for Following Jung's 2026 Campaign:
- Monitor his Spring Training isolated power (ISO) stats; anything above .200 indicates his wrist strength has fully returned.
- Compare his Zone Contact % against his 2023 All-Star season to see if his swing plane has leveled out.
- Check the Rangers' daily lineup cards to see if Bruce Bochy moves him back into the cleanup or 5th spot, which signals the team's confidence in his run-producing ability.