The Texas Rangers know exactly what Josh Jung can bring to their lineup. The problem is getting it for long enough to matter.
That’s the tension hanging over one of the most interesting questions in Texas this offseason. The Rangers have spent months looking for ways to steady an offense that has been inconsistent since winning the World Series in 2023, and there are already plenty of issues for the front office to untangle.
Jung is different. This isn’t about whether he can hit.
It’s about whether the Rangers can count on him to stay on the field.
When he was available in 2026, Jung looked the part of a core bat. He hit .299 with an .827 OPS, plus 12 home runs and 42 RBIs in 104 games.
Both his batting average and OPS were career highs, and his .365 on-base percentage was a big jump from the .294 mark he posted in 2025. After a 2025 season in which he hit .251 with a .684 OPS, Jung came back with a more complete approach and turned into one of the more reliable hitters in a lineup that needed them.
Then came the part that keeps turning this into a problem.
Jung’s season was limited to 104 games, and the missed time mattered. A calf injury knocked him out for 46 games in the second half, then his year ended in the final series against the Minnesota Twins when he was hit by a pitch and fractured his right hand. He finished the season in the dugout, which has become a far too familiar ending for a player whose major league career has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries.
None of that changes the fact that the Rangers have reasons to believe in him. His absence isn’t about lack of effort or preparation, and getting hit by a pitch is simply bad fortune. But the reality is just as stark: injuries still count, no matter how unlucky they are.
Jung has played more than 120 regular-season games only twice, and Texas can’t build its offense around the idea that one of its best hitters will be available for only part of the year. At the same time, the answer isn’t to move on from him or force a quick replacement. His performance in 2026 made the case for keeping him right in the middle of things.
What the Rangers need is support around him - dependable alternatives and a plan to manage his workload. Jung has already shown he can help solve Texas’ offensive issues. The harder part is giving him enough time to keep proving it.
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Rangers Face A Tough Jacob deGrom Decision This Winter
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The idea sounds simple until the details get involved. Any hypothetical deal would have to clear deGrom himself, and the kind of young talent Texas would need back would be substantial enough to justify moving on from a pitcher of his stature. For now, it remains exactly what it sounds like: a winter possibility with plenty of intrigue, but no easy path for the Rangers to navigate. [Read more 🡒]