Jung (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment Friday at Double-A Frisco, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Jung had previously played in four rehab games with Triple-A Round Rock from June 16 through 20, only to be pulled off the minor-league assignment when he experienced renewed soreness in his surgically repaired wrist. Just over a month later, Jung is ready for game action again after he was able to make quick progress through his hitting progression over the past week. He'll presumably remain on his rehab assignment at least through the weekend before the Rangers assess whether he's ready to return from the 60-day injured list. Jung should eventually settle back in as the Rangers' everyday third baseman, but he could be eased back from the IL as a designated hitter initially.
Jung (wrist) took batting practice on the field Sunday, and Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said afterward that the third baseman is close to facing live pitching, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Jung had been steadily increasing the intensity of his hitting work over the past week before he took another step forward by getting in some swings on the field Sunday. Bochy noted that the 28-year-old "looks good," while adding that "the strength is back" in his wrist. If Jung's wrist responds well once he faces off against higher-velocity pitching, he would likely then head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Jung may still have a chance to make it back from the 60-day injured list before the end of the month, though an early August return might be more realistic.
Jung (wrist) said he took 15 swings with a regular bat off a tee Sunday, MLB.com reports.
According to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News, Jung admitted that he's not certain of his next step, but the 26-year-old plans to continue swinging the bat over the All-Star break this week. If Jung incurs no setbacks with his surgically repaired right wrist while doing so, the Rangers could then map out a minor-league rehab assignment coming out of the break. Jung previously appeared in four rehab games in June and looked to be on the cusp of returning from the 60-day injured list before experiencing inflammation in his wrist and having his activation date pushed back.
