The Rangers announced this afternoon that they’ve placed third baseman Josh Jung on the 10-day injured list due to neck spasms. The move is retroactive to March 29, meaning that Jung will first be eligible for activation on April 7. Infielder Jonathan Ornelas was recalled from the minors in a corresponding move.
It’s surely a frustrating turn of a events for Jung, as the 27-year-old was looking to get off to a strong start this year after having his 2024 season derailed by a fractured wrist on April 1 of last year. This year, he won’t even make it to April without being placed on the shelf. As worrisome a sign as that may be, all indications from team officials have suggested Jung’s current ailment is not a particularly serious one. As noted by Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News, manager Bruce Bochy indicated to reporters that he expects that Jung will require only a minimum stay on the injured list.
Jung’s latest trip to the injured list doesn’t seem to be especially indicative of the severity of his neck problem, as the club was viewing him as day-to-day as recently as yesterday (as noted by MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry). The decision to place Jung on the shelf, it seems stems not from Jung’s own injury but rather an issue utility man Josh Smith is suffering from. Smith was playing third base during yesterday’s game but, as noted by McFarland, left the game with a left quad contusion after colliding with the wall in foul territory. Smith is currently considered day-to-day, but is out of the lineup today due to the issue.
With both Jung and Smith down for the time being, the Rangers felt they needed additional conver on the infield, prompting them to place Jung on the shelf so they could bring Ornelas up to the majors. The 24-year-old has just 26 games under his belt in the majors over the past two years and offers little offensive upside, but is a strong defender all around the infield with the speed to steal 15 bases in a season. Ornelas can fill a utility role for the club while Ezequiel Duran and (when healthy enough to return to the lineup) Smith cover for Jung at first base.
Losing Jung, the club’s selection with the eighth-overall pick in the 2019 draft, stings for the lineup. The 27-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2023 where he was named an All-Star and finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Since the start of that season, Jung has slashed a strong .267/.311/.454 across 170 games in the majors and was off to a hot start this year with three hits in his first seven at-bats. Fortunately, Smith should be a perfectly adequate replacement once he’s back in the lineup, as he had a breakout season of his own last year, hitting .258/.337/.394 in 592 trips to the plate while serving in a super-utility role. Smith’s versatility and solid bat even earned him the AL Silver Slugger award for utility players last year, and he figures to once again fill a similar role in 2025.
Knew a girl once that had neck spasms.
Lol, oh yeah… How’s your mum doing by the way?
Damn bro not every mom is a pro like yours
Yet his mother failed to get drafted and had to settle for a free agent deal before getting traded for wet ones
@oldgfan
Thoughts and prayers…
She was straining so hard to see anything of value when she was with you.
Mighty Josh Jung
Plays an inning
Hope goes spinning
Downwards
@Ignorant Son-of-a-b
LOL @ Mariners! Sounds like a great description of the M’s. Another joke organization.
What’s this all about? What are you attacking me for? Are you sensitive about the Rangers for some reason? Maybe you should show some decent fair play for a change and declare your favorite team so we can all take turns ridiculing it. I mean, it’s the least you could do.
@Ignorant Son-of-a-b
I’ve told you multiple times. It’s in my avatar. Yomiuri Giants.
And delicate Yorkies who bark at shadows.
Josh Dung
The Rangers placed him on the IL not necessarily because of his own condition but because another player, Josh Smith, also got hurt. This suggests that the Rangers are using the IL as a roster manipulation tool rather than strictly for injury management.
LoL – not if you’re familiar with Josh Jung!!
At least he lasted 2 games this season b4 heading to the IL
Love the guy as a player but he’s way too fragile
Cynical overreaction might be a sign of opacity, or simply not reading the article and commenting online.
You should also start sourcing whichever ChatBot/AI Bot you’ve been regurgitating your forum posts from over the last few weeks.
@Ignorant Son-of-a-b
It’s not some chatbot. It’s me.
You are a chat bot?
@Motor City Beach Bum
Exactly.
Has he ever been healthy?
He’s missed significant time every season all the way back to year he was drafted.
so the last time he wasnt injured was… little league?
Def amateur
Baseball is hard, Miss Bong.
Jung Mula Baby!!
Injured again! Time to trade him to the Tigers to play with his bro who will be the 2B next year 😉
In exchange for Reese Olson?
If Olson is going, then Baez too. Maybe Baez can learn something from Seager.
Oooohhhh. I like that!
Water is not wet; it’s a liquid that makes things it touches wet.
There’s so many typos in this article, it’s wild.
Wild?
Jung has a maturity problem. When Marcus Semien gets a neck spasm he sucks it up and does his job.
I believe you just might be a doctor and a keyboard warrior.