4:15pm: Foscue has been formally recalled with Jung positioned on the 10-day injured checklist. Rangers common supervisor Chris Younger stated Jung will bear surgical procedure and may very well be again in six weeks, per Jeff Wilson of Rangers At present.
9:59am: The Rangers will promote infield prospect and former first-round decide Justin Foscue forward of right now’s recreation, studies ESPN’s Jeff Passan. He’ll take the roster spot of third baseman Josh Jung, who’s headed to the injured checklist after struggling a damaged wrist yesterday when he was hit by a pitch. It’ll be Foscue’s main league debut when he first takes the sector.
Foscue, 25, is a bat-first prospect with a hit-over-power talent set. His excellent bat-to-ball expertise have been on play in every of the previous two seasons within the higher minors; he slashed .288/.367/.483 in 460 Double-A plate appearances in 2022 and .266/.394/.468 in 563 Triple-A plate appearances final yr. Foscue struck out in solely 14.3% of these Double-A plate appearances and notched a fair higher 12.4% strikeout fee in a 2023 season that noticed him draw walks at a gaudy 15.1% fee.
Whereas Foscue doesn’t have the plus energy we so typically see from bat-first prospects, that doesn’t imply he’s strictly a slap hitter. He popped 15 homers in ’22 and one other 18 final yr. He additionally piled up 31 doubles in every of the previous two seasons and has chipped in one other 5 triples alongside the way in which. Foscue attracts below-average grades for his pace however was capable of swipe 14 baggage in Triple-A final yr — albeit in 21 tries (66.7% success fee).
The principle knock on Foscue all through his skilled profession has been his protection. He’s performed primarily second base (1933 innings) however has additionally logged time on the scorching nook (410 innings) and at first base (92 innings). He’s not thought to be a powerful defender at any of these positions, nevertheless. Baseball America ranked him because the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect this season, lauding his offensive future however noting that Foscue “doesn’t have the vary, mobility or arm power to stay up the center or at third base.” He may finally function a platoon accomplice for Nathaniel Lowe at first base, a part-time designated hitter and maybe log a while in left discipline, however protection doesn’t seem prone to ever be an important a part of his talent set. Even when the Rangers had been extra bullish on his talents at second base than rival scouts, he’s blocked at his pure place, with Marcus Semien signed by way of 2028.
The Rangers doubtless aren’t calling Foscue up merely to play sparingly. Utilityman Ezequiel Duran may additionally see time at third base in Jung’s absence, however each Duran and Foscue bat right-handed, so a standard platoon isn’t prone to be deployed — at the very least at third base. With Lowe on the shelf, nevertheless, Foscue is usually a righty complement to Jared Walsh towards lefties. Past that, he figures to attract begins at designated hitter and third base versus right-handed pitching.
From a service time vantage level, Foscue is being recalled early sufficient that he’d garner a full yr if he sticks on the massive league roster. In that situation, he’d be arb-eligible following the 2026 season and slated without cost company following the 2029 season. Even a short-term optionally available stint again within the minors at any level within the subsequent few seasons may push his free company again a yr, although.
Given the crowded Texas infield — the place a wholesome Jung, Semien, Lowe and Corey Seager are all entrenched of their spots — it’s fairly doable Foscue may see a while again in Triple-A, significantly if he struggles in any respect in his preliminary style of the massive leagues. If he hits from the outset, nevertheless, he may finally transfer into an everyday DH function who often spells the Texas regulars across the infield.