The Texas Rangers, who led the American League West on August 6th, have been trying to stay in the Wild Card race ever since Josh Jung was placed on the Disabled List due to a fractured thumb. Texas is now 16–21 after former MacArthur Brahma underwent surgery to treat his injuries. But as the Rangers start the last two weeks of the regular season, Jung is back in the starting lineup.

In his first game action since early August, Jung will start at third base and bat fifth for the Rangers in Monday’s series opener against Boston. He fractured his left thumb while converting a double play in the sixth inning of Texas’ 6-0 victory over Miami on August 6, and was put on the 10-day injured list as a result on August 7. This afternoon at Globe Life Field, Jung participated in live batting practice against right-handed pitcher Josh Sborz, who is on the 15-day injured list due to a strained left hamstring.

In 109 games with the Rangers this season, the 25-year-old has batted.274/.323/.489/.813 (117-427), with 22 home runs and 67 RBI while making a team-high 107 starts at third base. Jung continues to rank among American League rookies in extra-base hits (T2nd, 47), RBI (3rd), doubles (3rd, 24), and home runs (T3rd), despite missing the last six weeks. His 22 home runs in 2023 set a club record for a rookie third baseman (the previous mark was 15 home runs by Dean Palmer in 1991) and tied Adolis Garca’s season-high of 31 home runs for Texas in 2021.