Josh Jung Bio
Joshua Ryne Jung is an American professional baseball third baseman who currently plays for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Jung has established himself as one of the most promising young players in baseball since making his MLB debut in 2022. He gained national attention immediately by hitting a home run in his first major league at-bat and has since become a key contributor to the Rangers franchise.
Early Life and Background
Joshua Ryne Jung was born on February 12, 1998, in San Antonio, Texas. He grew up in the city attending Douglas MacArthur High School, where he excelled in both baseball and football during his high school years. Despite his athletic success, Jung went undrafted in the 2016 MLB draft and chose to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level.
His parents, Jeff and Mary Jung, both work as teachers in the North East Independent School District. Their support and guidance helped shape Jung’s path to professional baseball from an early age.
College Career at Texas Tech
Jung enrolled at Texas Tech University to play college baseball for the Red Raiders, where he quickly proved himself as an exceptional talent. As a freshman in 2017, he started all 62 games at third base and batted .306 with six home runs and 43 RBIs. His outstanding performance earned him Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors and Freshman All-American recognition from multiple publications including Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game/Rawlings.
His sophomore season in 2018 saw Jung elevate his game further. He started all 65 games at third base and posted impressive numbers, hitting .392 with 12 home runs and 80 RBIs. He earned All-Big 12 First Team honors and was named an All-American by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. That summer, he also played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
Prior to his junior year, Jung received additional recognition as a preseason All-American from several major outlets. In 2019, he was named the Big 12 Co-Player of the Year after batting .333 with nine home runs and 49 RBIs through 49 games. He won the prestigious 2019 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award, which honors the top Division I baseball player across five states. Jung finished his junior season hitting .343 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 64 games, solidifying his status as one of the top prospects for the 2019 MLB draft.
Josh Jung Career
Minor Leagues (2019–2022)
Considered one of the top prospects for the 2019 MLB draft, Jung was selected by the Texas Rangers with the eighth overall pick in the first round. He signed with the Rangers on July 3, 2019, receiving a $4.4 million signing bonus. He made his professional debut on July 10, 2019, with the Arizona League Rangers, hitting a home run in his very first professional at-bat. He was quickly promoted to the Hickory Crawdads of the Class A South Atlantic League, where he hit .287 over 40 games.
The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying Jung’s development. In March 2021, he underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot, missing six to eight weeks. After returning in June, he played for the Frisco RoughRiders of Double-A, hitting .308 with ten home runs over 43 games before earning a promotion to Triple-A Round Rock in August. With Round Rock, Jung hit .348 with nine home runs over 35 games.
Texas Rangers Breakthrough (2022–Present)
Jung entered the 2022 season ranked as the ninth overall prospect in baseball by FanGraphs and the 26th overall by Baseball America. In February 2022, he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, but he returned to game action at the end of July. On September 9, 2022, the Rangers selected Jung’s contract from Triple-A and promoted him to the major leagues. In his MLB debut that night, he hit a home run off Ross Stripling of the Toronto Blue Jays in his very first at-bat, becoming only the second Rangers player to accomplish that feat alongside Jurickson Profar. He appeared in 26 games for Texas in 2022, hitting .204 with five home runs and 14 RBIs.
The 2023 season marked Jung’s rookie breakthrough. He was named American League Rookie of the Month in both April and May 2023, leading AL rookies in hits, home runs, and total bases during those months. His 21 RBIs were the most among all rookies during his hot start. Jung was voted in as the American League starting third baseman for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, becoming the first rookie to start in an All-Star game as a Texas Ranger. He capped the season by winning the World Series with the Rangers in 2023.
Texas Rangers Era (2024–Present)
Following his successful rookie campaign, Jung’s 2024 season was derailed by injury. After playing in just four games, he suffered a fractured wrist following a hit by pitch and was ruled out for eight to ten weeks after undergoing surgery. He was activated from the injured list on July 29, 2024, and finished the season with 46 games played, hitting .264 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs.
The 2025 season brought Jung’s continued presence on the Rangers roster. He began the year on the active roster but was placed on the injured list with neck spasms on March 30. He was activated on April 8 and remained with the team through mid-season, appearing in 75 games with eight home runs before being optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on July 3. He was recalled back to the majors on July 21 and played the remainder of the season with the Rangers, finishing 2025 with a .251 batting average, 14 home runs, and 61 RBIs across 131 games.
Defensive Skills and Strengths
Jung has established himself as a reliable defender at the hot corner with strong arm strength and quick reactions. His offensive approach combines patience at the plate with power to all fields, making him a complete hitter who can impact games in multiple ways.
Notable Events and Milestones
His career has been defined by several historic achievements. Hitting a home run in his MLB debut on September 9, 2022, placed him among rare company in Rangers history. His selection as the AL starting third baseman for the 2023 All-Star Game made him the first rookie to start an All-Star Game while playing for the Rangers. Most significantly, he helped lead Texas to the 2023 World Series championship.
Josh Jung Career Wins
Through his career spanning from 2022 to 2026, Jung has accumulated impressive statistics across his MLB career. His career batting average stands at .265 with 57 home runs and 192 RBIs through June 2026.
Texas Rangers Highlights
His most decorated season came in 2023 when he was named AL Rookie of the Month twice and earned All-Star selection as the starting third baseman. The highlight of his career came in 2023 when he won the World Series with the Texas Rangers, capturing the first championship in franchise history. His rookie season production of 21 RBIs led all AL rookies and helped anchor the Rangers’ lineup during their championship run.
College and Minor League Success
Before reaching the majors, Jung built an impressive resume at Texas Tech, earning Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors in 2017, All-Big 12 First Team recognition in 2018, and Big 12 Co-Player of the Year in 2019. He also won the 2019 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award. In the minors, he consistently performed at a high level, hitting over .300 at multiple levels including Triple-A Round Rock.
Josh Jung Family
Family Background
Jung comes from a family with strong athletic ties. His parents, Jeff and Mary Jung, are both educators who teach in the North East Independent School District in San Antonio. Their support has been instrumental throughout his baseball journey from youth leagues through professional baseball.
Personal Life
Outside of baseball, Jung is known for his Christian faith. He has a younger brother, Jace Jung, who followed a similar path by playing college baseball at Texas Tech. Jace was selected in the first round of the 2022 MLB draft, making the Jung brothers one of the notable baseball families in the sport.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season presented challenges and opportunities for Jung with the Texas Rangers. After beginning the year on the active roster, he was sidelined with neck spasms in late March, returning to action in early April. His performance through the first half of the season included eight home runs across 75 games with a .237 batting average before being optioned to Triple-A Round Rock in early July. The demotion gave him an opportunity to refine his approach against Triple-A pitching before being recalled later that month.
Upon his return to the majors on July 21, Jung demonstrated improved consistency throughout the remainder of the season. He finished 2025 with his most games played in a single season since his rookie year, appearing in 131 games with 14 home runs and 61 RBIs while posting a .251 batting average. The experience of spending time in Triple-A and his subsequent return to form showed his ability to adjust and respond to adversity at the major league level.
Looking ahead, Jung remains a key part of the Rangers’ plans at third base. At 27 years old, he has already achieved a World Series championship and All-Star selection while continuing to develop his offensive and defensive game. His track record of success at every level, combined with his work ethic and family support, positions him well for continued contributions to the Rangers’ pursuit of additional championships in the years ahead.