Although the 2024 MLB season is still in its early stages, a few teams are already dealing with the all-too-common issue of injuries. On Monday night, it was the Texas Rangers’ turn to fall prey, with starting third baseman Josh Jung leaving their 9-3 victory against the Tampa Bay Rays after being hit on the wrist by a pitch while swinging.
A deeper look at Jung’s injury revealed that he suffered a fracture in his wrist, ruling him out for the foreseeable future, according to Kennedi Laundry of MLB.com. Manager Bruce Bochy is disappointed that something beyond Jung’s control has halted what has been a terrific start to the 2024 season for the 26-year-old third baseman.
“I just feel terrible. He’s had a lot of bad luck with injuries lately, which dampens this victory. He was carrying us today, especially with his playing style. He will be back. I spoke to him briefly. This stings, and I feel for the kid because he’s been through so much. “It will take some time, but he will return,” Bochy remarked.
It is currently uncertain when Josh Jung will return, though a doctor on Twitter (X) stated that the Rangers’ best-case scenario is for Jung to be away for six to eight weeks. This would require him to miss a
Josh Jung continues to be unlucky with injuries
One occupational hazard of playing baseball for a living is being hit by a hard object moving at speeds approaching 100 mph. However, Josh Jung has had his fair share of unlucky injury moments, with the wrist injury he suffered against the Rays being only the most recent in a lengthy series of injuries over the last several seasons.
As Landry noted out, Jung has missed three of the last four seasons due to ailments, including a strained left calf earlier this year in Spring Training. The sole positive lesson is that his injuries were not limited to a single body part; he had a fractured left foot, a torn labrum, a calf injury, and a wrist fracture.
