Amid a slew of roster moves Monday, the Texas Rangers recalled third baseman Josh Jung, who was sent to Triple-A Round Rock earlier this month less than two years removed from being an All-Star selection.
Jung was in an 8-for-58 slump (.138) when Texas optioned him July 2. At the time, Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said it was a “very tough” decisions that was ultimately best for both Jung and the organization.
Jung, 27, responded by going 8-for-39 (.205) at Round Rock with two home runs, four RBIs and a .410 slugging percentage. In 75 total major league games this season, he is batting .237 with eight homers, 10 doubles and 35 RBIs.
Jung established himself quickly in his first full major league season, earning the All-Star nod and finishing fourth in American League Rookie of the Year balloting in 2023. He hit 23 home runs, 25 doubles and 70 RBIs that season with a .266 batting average and a .467 slugging percentage.
Prior to their series opener against the visiting Athletics, the Rangers also recalled utility player Michael Helman and right-handed pitcher Cole Winn from Triple-A. They optioned infielder Justin Foscue and outfielder Alejandro Osuna to Round Rock, and they placed right-hander Chris Martin on the 15-day injured list with a left calf strain.
Helman, 29, appeared in five games for Texas earlier this season and went 0-for-4 at the plate. He broke into the big leagues last year in nine games for the Minnesota Twins.
Winn, 25, went 0-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 13 games (17 innings) out of the bullpen earlier this year, striking out 11 but walking eight.
Foscue, 26, got into just four games for Texas this year, going 1-for-9 with a double and two RBIs.
Osuna, just 22 years old, made his MLB debut with the Rangers in May and batted .164 with one homer and five RBIs in 29 games.
Martin, the 39-year-old reliever who’s in the first year of his second stint with Texas, was reached for one run on three hits Sunday night and took the loss against the Detroit Tigers. He’s 1-6 with two saves and a 2.36 ERA in 39 relief appearances this year.
