ARLINGTON — Josh Jung played four games last season before an injury sidelined him for multiple months. He didn’t even make it that far before an ailment forced him to sit to start this season.
The Texas Rangers just hope that this one isn’t nearly as serious as the last.
Jung is not in Saturday’s lineup vs. the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Field and will miss “a few days” with neck spasms, according to manager Bruce Bochy. The 27-year-old broke camp with some neck stiffness, played opening day vs. the Red Sox but exited Friday’s game before the eighth inning when it flared back up after he fielded a groundball.
Bochy said that it’s still unclear whether he’ll need time on the injured list or not.
“I hope for him — and for us — that we don’t have to [place him on the injured list],” Bochy said. “It’s always a possibility.”
Jung’s first three major league seasons have been derailed by injuries. He played just 46 games last year due to a fractured wrist, missed 40 games the year prior with a broken thumb and suffered a torn labrum the season before that. He’s been an effective hitter and defender when healthy, started for the American League in the 2023 All-Star Game and was 3 for 7 with a run driven in this season before the latest road bump.
Super utility-man Josh Smith (who was presented with his Silver Slugger award Friday night and announced that his wife, Claire, is pregnant Saturday) started at third base in the third game vs. the Red Sox. Bochy said that Ezequiel Duran could start there in Sunday’s series finale.
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
