LUBBOCK, Texas – Throughout his time at Texas Tech, Josh Jung could be described in several ways: All-American, Big 12 Player of the Year and arguably one of the top all-around players to wear a Red Raider uniform.
He can now call himself by one more title: MLB All-Star.
Jung, in the midst of his rookie season with the Texas Rangers, was named the American League starting third baseball Thursday night for the MLB All-Star game July 11 in Seattle. Jung was four Rangers selected to the AL starting lineup, the most in franchise history for a Rangers organization that is 49-32 so far this season and the AL West division leaders.
In the process, Jung became the second Red Raider all-time to be named an All-Star as he joined Lubbock native and former Miami Marlins reliever A.J. Ramos, who was named to the National League roster in 2016. Jung is also the first Rangers rookie in franchise history to be named an All-Star starter and just the second rookie ever elected as an All-Star starter at third base, joining the Cardinals’ Eddie Kazak in 1949. He is the first rookie to be named an All-Star starter since Aaron Judge in 2017.
Jung, the eighth overall pick of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Rangers, has quickly acclimated himself to the Major Leagues as he is hitting .274 with 16 home runs and 48 RBI through Thursday afternoon’s loss to Detroit. He ranks near the top of every offensive category among all MLB third baseman, all while still manning the hot corner at an elite level with an .981 field percentage.
Jung’s rise up the Major League ranks should come at little surprise after his success as a Red Raider. The San Antonio native ended his career among the most decorated baseball athletes to ever don the scarlet and black, earning All-Big 12 first team honors twice as well as 15 All-America awards. He was also a two-time semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award.
Most importantly, Jung helped lead the Red Raiders to one of their most successful stretches in school history with two Big 12 regular-season titles in 2017 and 2019 as well as two trips to the College World Series in 2018 and 2019. Texas Tech was among the final four teams remaining in Omaha during Jung’s final season in 2019, its highest finish in history.
The Rangers selected Jung a few weeks later, making him the second Red Raider to hear his name called in the first round of the MLB Draft. He quickly was considered one of the Rangers’ top prospects, moving up from Double A Frisco to Triple A Pensacola (Florida), all while hitting a combined .311 with 30 home runs and 118 RBI in the minors.
Jung made his Major League debut on Sept. 9 of last season, immediately showing his potential with a home run in his very first at-bat off Ross Tripling of the Toronto Blue Jays. Jung appeared in 26 games to close the 2022 season for Texas, hitting .204 overall with five home runs and 14 RBI over only 102 plate appearances.
The 2023 MLB All-Star game is set for a 7 p.m. CT first pitch July 11 from T-Mobile Park in Seattle. Television coverage will be provided on FOX.
