Josh Jung Bio
Joshua Ryne Jung, known professionally as Josh Jung, is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). A highly regarded prospect coming out of Texas Tech University, Jung was selected by the Rangers in the first round of the 2019 MLB draft. He made his major league debut on September 9, 2022, and in his very first at-bat he hit a home run off Ross Stripling of the Toronto Blue Jays, becoming only the second Rangers player to homer in his debut alongside Jurickson Profar.
In just his second full season, Jung emerged as one of the top young third basemen in the American League. He was voted in as the American League starting third baseman for the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, becoming the first rookie to start an All-Star Game as a Texas Ranger. He also won the 2023 World Series with the Rangers, cementing his place among the organization’s most promising homegrown stars.
Early Life and Background
Joshua Ryne Jung was born on February 12, 1998, in San Antonio, Texas. He grew up in the same city and attended Douglas MacArthur High School, where he played both baseball and football. Despite his strong high school career, he went undrafted in the 2016 MLB draft and chose to continue his baseball development at the collegiate level.
His parents, Jeff and Mary Jung, are both teachers in the North East Independent School District in San Antonio. The family environment placed a strong emphasis on education and athletics, and Jung’s younger brother, Jace Jung, also went on to play college baseball at Texas Tech and was a first-round draft pick in 2022, following closely in his older brother’s footsteps.
Path to Professional Baseball
Jung enrolled at Texas Tech University to play college baseball for the Red Raiders. As a freshman in 2017, he started all 62 games at third base and batted .306 with six home runs and 43 RBIs. He was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and earned Freshman All-American honors from outlets including Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game/Rawlings.
In 2018, his sophomore season, Jung was even more impressive, starting all 65 games and hitting .392/.491/.639 with 12 home runs and 80 RBIs. He was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and earned All-American recognition. Following his junior year in 2019, he was named the Big 12 Co-Player of the Year and received the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award as the top Division I baseball player within Texas and the surrounding region. He was then selected by the Texas Rangers with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft.
Josh Jung Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
On July 3, 2019, Jung signed with the Texas Rangers for a $4.4 million signing bonus. Just a week later, on July 10, he made his professional debut with the Arizona League Rangers, hitting a home run in his very first professional at-bat. He was quickly promoted to the Hickory Crawdads of the Class A South Atlantic League, where he hit .287/.363/.389/.752 with one home run and 23 RBIs over forty games.
Jung did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned in 2021, but on March 20, 2021, it was announced that he would undergo surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot and miss six to eight weeks. After being activated in June, he was assigned to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Central, where he hit .308/.366/.544 with ten home runs and forty RBIs over 43 games, earning a promotion to the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A West.
Texas Rangers Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Entering the 2022 season, Jung was ranked as the ninth overall prospect in baseball by FanGraphs and the 26th overall prospect by Baseball America. A torn labrum in his left shoulder required surgery on February 23, 2022, but he returned to action at the end of July. On September 9, 2022, the Rangers selected his contract from Triple-A and promoted him to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut that night and hit a home run in his first at-bat off Ross Stripling.
In 2023, Jung quickly established himself as a top rookie in the American League. He was named AL Rookie of the Month in both April and May 2023, and he was voted in as the American League starting third baseman for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. He went on to win the World Series with the Rangers in 2023, completing a remarkable rise from first-round draft pick to championship contributor in just four years.
Texas Rangers Era (2024–Present)
Jung’s 2024 season was disrupted early by injury. After playing in just four games, he suffered a fractured wrist following a hit by pitch and was ruled out for eight to ten weeks after undergoing surgery. He was activated from the injured list on July 29, 2024, and finished the season appearing in 46 games, hitting .264/.298/.421/.719 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs.
On August 4, 2024, Jung hit a three-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning for a dramatic victory over the visiting New York Yankees, showcasing the clutch power that had defined his rise. Heading into 2025, he remains a central part of the Rangers’ lineup and a key figure in their effort to defend their championship pedigree.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jung is known for his disciplined approach at the plate, combining solid on-base skills with the ability to drive the ball for extra-base power. His positional versatility, having played both third base and shortstop in college, gives him flexibility defensively. His smooth swing and line-drive power profile make him a consistent middle-of-the-order threat when healthy.
Notable Events and Milestones
Jung’s most memorable moments include his MLB debut home run in 2022, his selection as the first rookie to start an All-Star Game as a Texas Ranger in 2023, and his role on the Rangers’ 2023 World Series championship team. His walk-off home run against the New York Yankees in August 2024 added another signature moment to his growing resume.
Josh Jung Career Wins
Although Jung is still early in his major league career, he has already accumulated several notable achievements, including two AL Rookie of the Month awards, an All-Star selection, and a World Series championship. His most significant win came as a member of the 2023 Texas Rangers squad that captured the franchise’s first World Series title.
MLB Highlights
Jung’s MLB highlights begin with his debut home run on September 9, 2022, off Ross Stripling. He followed that with consecutive AL Rookie of the Month honors in April and May 2023, becoming the American League starting third baseman for that year’s All-Star Game. He concluded the 2023 season as a World Series champion.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, Jung earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2017, All-Big 12 First Team honors in 2018, and Big 12 Co-Player of the Year in 2019. He was also a multi-time All-American and the recipient of the 2019 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award.
Josh Jung Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Josh Jung was raised in San Antonio, Texas, by his parents Jeff and Mary Jung, both of whom work as teachers in the North East Independent School District. The family has produced a notable baseball lineage, as his younger brother Jace Jung also attended Texas Tech and was selected as a first-round pick in the 2022 MLB draft.
Personal Life
Jung is a Christian, and he has credited his faith and family for grounding him throughout his baseball journey. He continues to be closely tied to his San Antonio roots and his family’s strong tradition of education and athletics.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Jung is positioned as a cornerstone of the Texas Rangers’ infield and a key bat in the middle of their lineup. Following an injury-disrupted 2024 campaign, he is expected to take on an everyday role at third base and serve as a stabilizing force for a team looking to remain competitive in the American League.
His late-2024 return to form, highlighted by his walk-off home run against the Yankees, offered a glimpse of the impact he can provide when healthy. The Rangers will look for him to build on that momentum and reestablish himself among the top young third basemen in the game.
With a full season of health and the experience of a championship run behind him, Jung enters 2025 as one of the most important pieces of the Rangers’ long-term plans. His combination of power, on-base ability, and defensive versatility makes him a player the organization is counting on for years to come.