ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers sent struggling third baseman Josh Jung to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday and activated first baseman Jake Burger from the 10-day injured list.
Jung was hitting .237 with eight homers in 35 RBIs in 75 games this season, but hit only .164 (19 of 116) over his past 30 games since May 26. An All-Star starter as a rookie in 2023, Jung didn’t start Tuesday night, a day after he went 0 for 5 for the fourth time since June 16. He has struck out 36 times (29.5%) in his last 122 plate appearances.
Texas made the moves before its series finale against Baltimore.
“I think it’s fair to say he’s been going through some struggles here,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “The best thing right now for Josh and this club is to let him get some at-bats with Round Rock, get his game back, his confidence back. We need him.”
Burger returned after with a left oblique strain.
Jung was voted in by fans as an All-Star starter for the American League in 2023, and weeks after playing in the All-Star Game on a fielding play at Miami. He returned to hit .308 (20 for 65) with three homers in the playoffs as the Rangers won their only World Series title that season.
The 27-year-old Jung missed nine games earlier this year . He was limited to 46 games last year after his right wrist was fractured when getting hit by a pitch.
The Rangers in early May, when he was hitting .190 with a team-high 32 strikeouts in 100 at-bats his first 30 games. He hit .391 with two home runs in six games for Round Rock.
Once he returned to the majors, the 29-year-old Burger hit .243 with seven homers and 17 RBIs in 35 games before injuring the oblique June 20 against Baltimore.
“I know the type of player he is and know what type of player he wants to be on a daily basis,” Burger said of Jung. “For me, you’ve got to take it with a positive attitude and hopefully stay down there, get your head right and come back up because this ballclub needs him.”
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