ARLINGTON — Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy wouldn’t put a timeline on injured third baseman Josh Jung. But he offered an ideal scenario Saturday at Globe Life Field.
“I think he can help us from August 1,” said Bochy.
Jung has been close before. He has been on rehab assignments before. But he still hasn’t managed to get off the 60-day injured list with his broken right wrist.
Friday was a tougher day with cage work under the stadium, Bochy said. Saturday was easier as Jung did sprints, ran around the bases and hit some light hits.
Bochy would not say when Jung would return to a rehab assignment. If they expect him to help out in early August, his rehab assignment should come soon.
His last game in the minors was on June 20 with Triple-A Round Rock. Jung returned to Arlington hoping to be activated shortly thereafter.
The injury has healed. But he sometimes experiences stiffness and pain in his wrist, which has prevented him from clearing the final hurdle of coming off the IL and returning to the lineup.
Jung was batting .412 with two home runs and six RBIs when he was hit by a pitch on his right wrist against Tampa Bay on April 1. The next day, he was transferred to the 10-day IL, where he underwent surgery to repair the fracture, which was more serious than expected.
He has been in the 60-day IL since April 8. He is eligible for activation.
Meanwhile, outfielder Evan Carter also did some base-hitting Saturday as he recovers from a sore lower back. Bochy said the rookie left-handed hitter would take batting practice Tuesday at Globe Life Field.
After that? It’s unclear if a rehab assignment will follow, and if so, where. In late June, Carter flew to Arizona to begin batting at the team’s training complex in Surprise. But the plan is to send Carter on a rehab assignment when he’s ready.
Carter went on the 15-day IL in June with lower back pain. It was his second bout with back pain this season. He missed seven games in May but was not listed as injured.
The Rangers believe Carter’s offensive downturn this season is partly due to the injury. When he went on the injured list, he was hitting .188/.272/.361/.633 with five home runs and 15 RBI.
