Josh Jung Bio
Joshua Ryne Jung, born on February 12, 1998, is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). A former first-round pick in the 2019 MLB draft, Jung developed into one of the top position-player prospects in the Rangers system after a standout college career at Texas Tech University. He wears jersey number 6 for the Rangers and has quickly become a central piece of the team’s infield.
In 2023, Jung emerged as a rookie star, earning an All-Star selection and helping Texas capture the World Series title. His combination of plate discipline, defensive reliability at third base, and competitive energy has marked him as a long-term building block for the franchise.
Early Life and Background
Joshua Ryne Jung was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, where he grew up in a family that valued both education and athletics. His parents, Jeff and Mary Jung, are both teachers in the North East Independent School District, and their support played a steady role in his development as a young athlete. The San Antonio area has long produced strong baseball talent, and Jung took advantage of that environment to refine his skills from an early age.
Jung attended Douglas MacArthur High School, where he lettered in both baseball and football. Although he went undrafted in the 2016 MLB draft, his performance on the diamond drew attention from college recruiters across the region. He ultimately chose to play college baseball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, a program with a growing reputation for developing major league talent.
Path to Baseball
At Texas Tech University, Jung quickly established himself as one of the most productive hitters in the Big 12 Conference. During his freshman season in 2017, he started all 62 games at third base and batted .306 with six home runs and 43 runs batted in. His performance earned him Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors and Freshman All-American recognition from outlets including Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game/Rawlings.
Jung’s sophomore year in 2018 was even stronger, as he hit .392 with a .491 on-base percentage and 12 home runs, earning All-Big 12 First Team honors and multiple All-American selections. Following his junior season, he was named the 2019 Big 12 Co-Player of the Year and received the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award. He was selected by the Texas Rangers with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft, signing for a $4.4 million bonus.
Josh Jung Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
After signing with the Rangers in July 2019, Jung began his professional career in the Arizona League, where he homered in his very first at-bat. He was quickly promoted to the Hickory Crawdads of the Class A South Atlantic League, hitting .287 with a home run and 23 runs batted in over 40 games. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying his development.
In 2021, Jung underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot and missed the start of the season. After returning in June, he split time between the Frisco RoughRiders of Double-A and the Round Rock Express of Triple-A, combining to hit .308 with ten home runs at Frisco and .348 with nine home runs at Round Rock. By the end of the year, he had cemented his status as one of the top prospects in all of baseball.
MLB Debut and Rookie Season (2022–2023)
Jung’s major league debut came on September 9, 2022, when the Rangers selected his contract from Triple-A. In his first at-bat that night, he hit a home run off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ross Stripling, becoming only the second Rangers player to homer in his debut. He appeared in 26 games during the late-season call-up, finishing with five home runs and 14 runs batted in.
The 2023 season launched Jung into the national spotlight. He was named American League Rookie of the Month in both April and May, leading all rookies in hits, home runs, and total bases during the early stretch. He was voted in as the starting third baseman for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, becoming the first Texas Rangers rookie to start an All-Star contest. Jung finished the year helping the Rangers win the 2023 World Series championship, capping a memorable rookie campaign.
Texas Rangers Era (2022–Present)
Following his rookie success, Jung remained the everyday third baseman for Texas heading into 2024. His season was interrupted early by a fractured wrist suffered on a hit by pitch, requiring surgery and an eight-to-ten-week absence. He returned in late July and finished the year with a .264 batting average, seven home runs, and 16 runs batted in over 46 games.
In 2025, Jung began the year on the Rangers roster but was briefly sidelined with neck spasms in early April. After being optioned to Triple-A Round Rock in July, he returned to the majors later that month and played the rest of the season in Texas. He finished 2025 with a .251 batting average, 14 home runs, and 61 runs batted in across 131 games, continuing his role as a core member of the Rangers infield.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although he is a baseball player rather than a driver, Josh Jung’s strengths on the field mirror the qualities of a disciplined competitor. He features a balanced left-handed swing with the ability to drive the ball to all fields, and his plate discipline allows him to work counts and draw walks. Defensively, he brings a strong arm and steady hands to the hot corner, and his baseball IQ has earned him the trust of the Rangers coaching staff.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature moments of Jung’s early career came on September 9, 2022, when he homered in his first major league at-bat off Ross Stripling. His 2023 All-Star selection as the first rookie starter for Texas, followed by a World Series ring, marked the high point of his rookie year. He also became a 2023 AL All-Star starter, joining a select group of Rangers infielders to earn that honor.
Josh Jung Career Wins
While baseball uses different statistical categories than racing, Josh Jung’s career achievements include major milestones such as his World Series championship and All-Star selection. Through his first several major league seasons, he has produced a combined batting average of .265 with 57 home runs and 192 runs batted in, establishing himself as a reliable everyday contributor for the Texas Rangers.
MLB Highlights
Jung’s most memorable major league moments include his debut home run in September 2022 and his record-setting 2023 rookie season. He earned back-to-back AL Rookie of the Month awards in April and May 2023, and he was a key contributor during the Rangers’ World Series run that fall. He has continued to play nearly every day at third base when healthy, anchoring the left side of the infield.
Other Performances
During his time in the minor leagues, Jung was a consistent middle-of-the-order bat, hitting .287 at Hickory in 2019 and combining for a .320-plus average across Double-A and Triple-A in 2021. His production at every level reinforced his top-prospect status and set the stage for his rapid rise to the major leagues.
Josh Jung Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Josh Jung comes from a tight-knit family with deep roots in the San Antonio community. His parents, Jeff and Mary Jung, both work as teachers in the North East Independent School District, and they have supported his baseball journey from the earliest stages. The family has produced another notable baseball talent in his younger brother, Jace Jung, who also played college baseball at Texas Tech and was a first-round draft pick in 2022.
Personal Life
Off the field, Jung is a practicing Christian and has spoken openly about the role his faith plays in his daily life. He remains connected to his hometown of San Antonio and his alma mater, often returning to Texas Tech during the offseason. His family continues to be a central part of his life, providing a steady foundation as he navigates the demands of a major league schedule.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a year of resilience for Josh Jung, who battled injuries early but returned to contribute steadily down the stretch. After being placed on the injured list in early April with neck spasms, he came back and posted respectable power numbers before a brief option to Triple-A Round Rock in July. Following his recall on July 21, he finished the year strong, logging 131 total games and reaching double-digit home runs for the second consecutive season.
His production in 2025 helped stabilize the Rangers’ infield and provided a veteran presence around younger teammates. With a full offseason of rest expected, Jung is positioned to return to All-Star form in the coming year and remain the everyday third baseman for Texas. His combination of playoff experience, defensive stability, and offensive upside continues to make him one of the franchise’s most important players.
