Josh Jung -- Prospect Evaluation

Josh Jung, a 6'2", 215-pound junior third baseman/shortstop for Texas Tech, enters the 2019 MLB Draft as one of the top offensive prospects in the class. Following an exceptional 2018 season where he led the Raiders to the College World Series, Jung posted a .392 batting average with 103 hits, 80 RBIs, and a .491 on-base percentage while recording 45 walks in just 46 games—ranking 17th nationally in walks per game. His primary strength lies in his controlled, contact-first approach at the plate, enabling him to barrel balls to all fields with a quick swing. Jung demonstrated exceptional clutch hitting, driving in runners from third base with fewer than two outs in 75% of opportunities. His plate vision and strike zone management are elite for his age group, and scouts credit him with solid defensive instincts and a strong arm despite his recent positional move from third base to shortstop.

While Jung's contact-oriented approach has limited his home run production at the collegiate level, scouts project he could develop into a 25-30 home run third baseman once he begins pulling pitches more consistently and fully utilizes his raw power and solid frame. The primary weakness identified in Jung's profile is his lack of speed—he has stolen only seven bases in his collegiate career despite nine triples—though this limitation is not expected to significantly impact his draft positioning given his position at third base. Scout comparisons liken Jung to Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Colin Moran, another player who prioritizes contact hitting and strikeout management.

Josh Jung, the Rangers' top prospect selected 8th overall in the 2019 Draft from Texas Tech, demonstrates one of the purest hitting abilities in the Rangers system with a future value grade of 50+. Promoted from AZL Rangers to Hickory Crawdads (A Full) in 2019, Jung exhibits elite contact skills with a clean swing and strong discipline, maintaining a .316 batting average in his first professional season despite batting just .287 at Hickory. His present/future grades show elite hit potential (40/60) and raw power (55/60), though his overall power grade sits at 30/50+, suggesting room for development.

Jung's college pedigree is strong, having batted .343 with 33 home runs over three seasons at Texas Tech, but he has not yet translated this power into professional baseball. The scouting report indicates this emphasis on contact over power is intentional within the Rangers' development approach. Defensively, Jung is adequate at third base with above-average arm strength and athleticism; he committed only 2 errors in 2019. His blend of clean contact skills, discipline at the plate, and size (6'2", 215 lbs) suggests potential for 20-25 home runs annually once he fully develops his power stroke. With an estimated major league ETA of 2022, Jung represents a cornerstone prospect for the Rangers' future.

Josh Jung is a college baseball prospect from Texas Tech who was selected 8th overall by the Texas Rangers in 2019. He maintains strong offensive statistics with a .325 batting average, .381 on-base percentage, and .535 slugging percentage across 114 at-bats, with 4 home runs. Jung earned first-team Freshman All-American honors in 2017 and second-team All-American status in 2018, though his junior season performance declined from his sophomore peak, primarily due to a lower batting average.

Scouts view Jung as a future above-average or plus hitter who prioritizes batting average over power production. He demonstrates solid strike-zone awareness, comfort working deep counts, and the ability to recover from disadvantaged counts. His swing is oriented to drive the ball up the middle or to the right-center field gap, with most evaluators projecting average power at best as a professional. Some scouts express concern that his average bat speed contributes to his hit-focused approach.

Defensively, Jung presents debate among evaluators. While he possesses good hands, a plus accurate arm, and strong charging abilities on ground balls, scouts worry his tight hips and below-average foot speed may necessitate a move to corner outfield or first base rather than shortstop. However, the most likely projection is that Jung becomes an average third baseman. His strong plate discipline, lengthy track record of hitting, and plus arm make him a likely middle-of-the-first-round prospect, though questions about his agility and power limit him from top-tier consideration. Jung ranked as the #1 prospect in the Texas Rangers organization from 2020-2021, #2 in 2022, and #3 in 2023, with Baseball America ranking him #26 overall in 2022.

Josh Jung, a Texas Tech third baseman standing 6'2" and weighing 215 lbs, is being evaluated as a potential pick for the Texas Rangers in the 2019 MLB Draft (first round begins June 3). The Rangers hold the #8 overall pick, plus selections at #41 and #50. Jung's primary strength is his hit tool and offensive consistency in the Big 12, making him an attractive prospect to local Rangers fans given his Texas ties and the team's need for a long-term third baseman.

However, Jung faces significant questions about his position sustainability. Multiple evaluators believe he may need to relocate to first base due to defensive limitations at third, and his speed and athleticism may preclude an outfield move. More critically, Jung has not demonstrated the power expected from a top-10 corner bat prospect, though some scouts believe improvement is possible. Rankings vary considerably across sources: MLB Pipeline has him as high as #6 overall, while Baseball America ranks him #12 (down from #9), Fangraphs at #14, and Keith Law at #18.

Given these considerations, Jung could potentially be selected by the Rangers later than pick #8, as he may slide further down the draft. FanGraphs has suggested the Rangers might take a below-slot prospect at #8 to allocate additional resources to their second and third round picks. The comparison has been made to Brett Wallace, another college third baseman with a solid approach and hit tool who ultimately proved unable to maintain the position while lacking sufficient power production.

Josh Jung is the Texas Rangers' top-ranked prospect entering 2020, according to Sports Illustrated's preseason Prospect Watch rankings. The 21-year-old third baseman was selected in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft after establishing himself as an elite college hitter at Texas Tech, where he earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors and was named a three-time All-American. Jung did not play high school ball after going undrafted in 2016 and instead attending Texas Tech, where he hit .306 as a freshman and started every game. In his first professional season (2019), Jung demonstrated his advanced hitting ability by batting .588 over four games in the Arizona League before being promoted to Class A Hickory Crawdads, where he maintained a .287 average over 40 games. Jung's primary strength is his accomplished and mature approach at the plate, featuring an advanced hit tool and gap-hitting ability. Rather than relying on home run power, Jung consistently drives balls into gaps and demonstrates the ability to hit to all fields with notable consistency. His hitting proficiency has earned him co-ranking as the #1 prospect by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.