How do the Rangers move forward with Josh Jung's continued decline?

Following what can only be described as a rollercoaster of a 2025 season where third baseman Josh Jung sent back to the minors for a "swing reset" and later benched, the 2026 campaign has somehow gotten off to worse start.

While Jung collected his first two singles of the season in Wednesday's 8-3 loss to the Orioles, he is now just 2-for-21 (.095) through the team's first six games.

Jung's struggles have been hard to watch for Ranger fans

Before Wednesday, Jung was 0-for-17 on the season and dead last among all 379 qualified hitters in wRC+, OBP and wOBA. He also had seven strikeouts and only managed to hit the ball out of the infield once, averaging an exit velocity of 79 mph, which ranks 335th in MLB.

Quite frankly, it looks like more of what we all saw last year, which was a hitter who was completely lost both mentally and physically at the plate, flailing away with his long, looping hacks that look like Paul Bunyan taking his axe to the base of an oversized oak tree and missing his mark.

New manager Skip Schumaker has already been forced to look for better options and sat Jung against Zach Eflin in Tuesday's 8-5 Rangers' win.

It's hard to imagine the precipitous decline for Jung, who was the AL All-Star starting third baseman his rookie year and finished 4th in the ROY voting. Alas, here we are, three seasons late with several guys eager to take the hot corner spot full-time moving forward.

The Rangers have options other than Jung at third base

Jung has two minor league options remaining and the organization controls him through the 2028 season. They could send him down again, or they could get on the phone and see if any GMs are willing to buy Jung on a dip.

On the roster right now, utility man Ezequiel Duran is making a strong move to take the every day role. They also have Cameron Cauley sitting in Round Rock chomping at the bit to finall see action at the major league leve.

Cauley impressed during spring training and could easily make the move from middle infield to third. The only thing the Rangers don't have available to them should they move on from Jung is the Gold Glove-caliber defensive play, which he has shown consistency at despite his woes at the plate.

As the Rangers return home to Arlington for their home opener against the Reds, Chris Young needs to gather his most trusted inner circle and decide what they want to do with the gaping black hole in the starting lineup.