Josh Jung’s electric debut brought Texas Rangers season back to life for one game

For what felt like the first time in forever, the Texas Rangers managed to play a game with some degree of excitement in the month of September. Now to be clear, there’s no pennant chase or playoff race happening in Arlington. But the debut of top prospect Josh Jung? We can live with that.

In his first ever MLB game, Jung finished 2-4 at the plate, including his first home run and RBI, in a night he won’t soon forget.

Josh Jung’s debut was a highlight of what has been a tough season for the 2022 Texas Rangers

Jung is the top-ranked prospect in the Rangers’ farm system, and has been for quite some time, even with Jack Leiter and others in tow. And his electric big league debut showed us all why.

The hit tool has always been the former first-rounder’s best asset, and after running roughshod through the minor leagues for Texas after a shoulder injury that sidelined him in Spring Training, the case to continue playing him down there was growing thinner by the day. And what better way to prove your organization right by keeping that momentum into your big league debut?

With Leody Taveras on second base and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning on Friday night’s loss 4-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, Jung had a chance to put a keynote on his spectacular debut with a walk-off hit, but he struck out against All-Star closer Jordan Romano. That’s nothing to be ashamed of, and surely Jung will get more opportunities to play the hero in what looks to be a promising big league career.

In a season that has otherwise lacked excitement and tons of demoralizing one-run losses, Josh Jung’s debut symbolized the good that lies ahead for the Texas Rangers. They expect Jung to be a future franchise cornerstone at third base, a young talent that can form a part of the next winning core in Arlington. And there’s no reason to believe he isn’t capable of reaching such lofty expectations, especially with help from veterans Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, as well as the prospects that will follow Jung to the big leagues soon.

Josh Jung’s debut brought the Texas Rangers’ moribund season back to life, at least for one game, this September.