ARLINGTON -- Rangers third baseman Josh Jung has a right hand fracture, manager Skip Schumaker announced following the Rangers’ 10-2 loss to the Twins on Friday night.
“Devastated … period,” Jung said when asked about his immediate emotions following the fracture.
Jung, who got the start at DH on Friday, left the series opener against the Twins after being hit by a 94.6 mph four-seamer from Joe Ryan on the hand/wrist. He took his base as Schumaker and a trainer went out to check on him. Jung initially stayed in the game to run the bases and ended up scoring, but did not return to the plate the next turn through the order.
Alejandro Osuna pinch-hit for Jung in the third inning.
Jung has been one of the Rangers’ most valuable hitters this season, hitting .299 with 12 homers and an .827 OPS in 104 games. He missed 46 games with a calf injury, but has hit .341 games since being activated from the injured list on Sept. 12.
Entering today, the Rangers were 53-50 with Jung in the lineup this season and 26-30 without him.
“[Jung] is out, that's pretty significant,” Schumaker said. “Him and Joc [Pederson] both with hand fractures or wrist fractures, it’s not ideal at this time of the year. But we’ve still got to go. We have two games left, and we’ve got to figure this thing out.”
Jung missed much of the 2024 season after being hit on the right wrist with a pitch during the first week of the season. The fracture ultimately required multiple surgeries. This hand fracture is about three inches lower than that one.
The Rangers will now be without two of their best hitters in the final series of the season with a chance to clinch the AL West. Pederson has not played since Sept. 13 after he was hit on the left hand by a pitch in Arizona.
“It's never easy when you see one of your best players go down,” Schumaker said. “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. Tomorrow is obviously the biggest game of the year.”