It seems to me that the nature of the beast when discussing prospects is you get a lot of: Here’s what I said previously when he was supposed to be called up already. Unlike most prospects, Josh Jung wasn’t kept in the minors simply for service time reasons. Josh Jung was ticketed for the majors this past preseason until he hurt his foot. Jung, man, no need to be bruised. Here’s what Prospect Itch said previously, “The best Texas prospect since Gallo, Josh Jung brings full-field power, plate discipline, and a plus hit tool along with functional defense at the hot corner. I’m trying to acquire him in my 20-team OBP league and suggest anyone seeking potentially affordable third base help consider the same in their leagues. Speaking of affordable, anyone know a reasonably priced hitman to take out Grey?” Okay, that’s not cool. Hold on one second, are you telling me the Rangers have a decent prospect? I call BS. This is the Rangers just trying to sneak Michael Young back out at 3rd base, and spelling his name differently. Jung, you’re nothing but a Freud! Podcaster Geoff told me the other day, he thinks Jung is a 25-homer, 3-steal, .280 hitter. Oh, and if you were wondering, Josh Jung was eventually held down artificially last year after he returned from his 30-game injury. Artificially like my smile when I congratulate someone else for winning my fantasy league. “Congrats, way to avoid Cody Bellinger,” and the subtext is, “I would’ve won if not for Cody Bellinger.” A gracious loser, I am not. Show me a gracious loser and I’ll show you a loser! *tears shirt off and runs through a wall, casually returns by coming through the door* In 78 minor league games this past year (Double and Triple-A), Jung hit 19 HRs and .332. Giddy up, Texas Rangers! So, what can we expect from Josh Jung for 2022 fantasy baseball?
What I don’t understand completely in relation to Josh Jung is that he was hurt in the preseason, as stated, but he returned after six weeks, then was still suppressed like my tongue with a popsicle stick wielded by a doctor. I mean, I get why teams keep players in the minors. I’m not being daft. I mean, the Rangers aren’t usually a team that does that, mostly because I don’t think they understand how things work. This is an actual quote from them on why Jung won’t be participating in the AFL, “As we looked at it we were satisfied with the number of at-bats Josh got. I think that we have ways of making up some of Josh’s ABs,” said the very tall GM, Chris Young. They have ways to make up the at-bats? Huh? For life of me, I can’t understand that. If Jung was about to make his major league debut this past spring, as he was, then returned looking great, which he did, why wasn’t he called up? Did the Rangers just forget about him? This is a possibility with them. Though, I’m being a little bit unfair; I actually liked the direction their team went this year. Look at the Rangers’ 2021 vs. the Rockies, and the Rangers look like the Rays. Andy Ibanez isn’t a real thing though. He might’ve been called up to start at 3rd in front of Jung because he’s got five years on Jung and the Rangers knew if they didn’t give him a chance, they never would. Ibanez would seem to be the only one standing between Jung and everyday playing time, and Ibanez is about to get rotated all around the field.
Some have doubted whether or not Josh Jung has the power to be an attractive fantasy corner man contributor. Metalks like a leprechaun and methinks so:
Josh Jung goes deep to left with this three-run blast for the @RRExpress. pic.twitter.com/uWtshdlnCZ
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 24, 2021
I don’t just toss around the boomstick tag, but that looks like a boomstick. Not saying he could play Quidditch, that’s a broomstick. This is a boomstick. He reminds me a little of another guy we (I) just talked about: my Jose Miranda fantasy. Though, Jung has even less speed. He might struggle to get three steals in 150 games, which is fine, it’s not why you’re drafting him. To give you a super random comparison, Jung could be Ty France. Jung, the France man. Call him Josh-Jung Sartre. Though, Jung should have more power, maybe a hair less power and average. Hmm, maybe that comparison isn’t great, except how else was I getting to call him, Josh-Jung Sartre? For 2022, I’ll give Josh Jung projections of 56/21/65/.272/2 in 487 ABs with a chance for more power.