Are the Rangers facing a Josh Jung problem? Rookie callup hints at rising doubt

When Cody Freeman pinch ran for Kyle Higashioka and scored the winning run for the Texas Rangers on Friday night, it was a heck of a story. However, part of that story is not at all a positive. Freeman's callup before the start of the second half of the season underlines that one of the franchise's top young stars continues to struggle in deeply concerning ways.

Josh Jung was supposed to build on the kind of season the youngster had in 2023, where he bashed 23 home runs. His 2024 season was cut short due to injury, but the Rangers hoped he would show why he was such a heralded rookie. When he didn't, Jung was sent down to the minors on July 2. It was expected he would turn things around quickly and be back up in the Big Leagues in short order.

Josh Jung’s Triple-A stint raises fresh concerns for the Texas Rangers lineup

Unfortunately, Jung has struggled at Triple-A Round Rock as well. While he's only played in six games, slashing just .214/.241/.393/.634 shows that Jung indeed has something broken in his approach that he badly needs to fix.

Even on Friday night, as Jung hit a three-run homer, he still went 1-for-5. In other words, even when he shows off the power that the Texas Rangers are so in love with, he's showing that pitchers are getting the best of him far more often than he is of them.

It's not like Freeman's callup wasn't totally undeserved. He's having easily his best minor league season by slashing .315/.367/.494/.860 with 12 home runs and 8 stolen bases.

Where Cody Freeman being up instead of Jung stands out is that the Rangers are in the middle of a playoff hunt. They would much rather have called up the slugging third baseman than the untested rookie, who, for now, they haven't even trusted with a plate appearance.

Things are still in the early going of Josh Jung's revamping. There is at least some positivity in the fact that he hit his first homer of this trip to the minors in the first game back from the All-Star break. However, the Texas Rangers need the youngster to start showing he belongs back in the major leagues. If he doesn't, the team has some disturbing questions it has to ask about one of its most prized players of the last few seasons.