Josh Jung’s MLB debut likely on hold until 2021. Why that’s best for Texas Rangers
In trying to come up with three topics for this edition of Rangers Reaction, it struck me that there weren’t three fresh things worthy of reaction from the actual game.
Does anyone have any new thoughts about Rougned Odor? He went 0 for 4 as the Texas Rangers’ No. 2 hitter, though he did actually put a ball in play in the first inning to drive in a run.
How about the ongoing struggles of Kyle Gibson? There’s nothing new there, other than a deteriorating won-loss record (1-5) and a soaring ERA (6.14). Yes, it’s important he keep pitching because he’s under contract the next two seasons, but it’s the same story as last time.
Leody Taveras is still making a favorable impression. He had a leadoff triple and scored on Odor’s groundout.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa is still hitting, now in 13 straight games.
Joey Gallo reached base for the 13th straight game.
Nobody appeared to be injured.
That’s actually fresh.
Here’s some Rangers Reaction from a 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
No Jung?
Sam Huff was added to the roster Thursday and is expected to be the starting catcher Friday as the Rangers open a four-game weekend series, featuring a Saturday doubleheader, against the first-place Oakland A’s.
Huff is the latest prospect to make his MLB debut this season. Once his development is complete, he will bring right-handed power to the Rangers’ lineup and added more quality defense behind the plate even though he’s huge (6-foot-5, 240 pounds).
The next prospect up will likely be another large human, right-handed reliever Demarcus Evans (6-foot-5, 265), and he might be the last of them — big or small.
Evans dominated in the minors the past two seasons, but learned this spring and during summer camp that his curveball wasn’t good enough to get big-league hitters out and he wasn’t ready to handle it emotionally.
Those things have been ironed out at the alternate camp, manager Chris Woodward said, and he wants to see Evans pitch at some point soon. The way Woodward was talking, it could be as soon as this weekend.
But Woodward also said to not expect Josh Jung, the Rangers’ 2019 first-round pick, to make his debut this season even though the reports on him have been nothing but positive.
Does he deserve a chance? It sounds as if he’s earned it based strictly on doing what he was tasked to do as a member or the 60-man player pool. Of course, there’s more to it than that.
The Rangers won’t want to start his service time clock, and they don’t want to put him on the 40-man roster and start burning up minor-league options on a player who hasn’t had a full season in the minors and finished 2019 at Low A Hickory.
A look at the majors would not guarantee Jung a spot on the Opening Day roster in 2021 or at all in 2021. That goes for Anderson Tejeda, Kyle Cody and Huff.
The difference with Tejeda and Cody is that they were on the 40-man roster before they were promoted. Huff was not, but he was going to be placed this offseason to avoid exposure to the Rule 5 draft. Doing it now isn’t a huge inconvenience.
One other factor with Tejeda, Cody and Huff is need. The Rangers needed to place them on the roster because of injuries — Odor and Elvis Andrus in Tejeda’s case, and Jose Trevino in Huff’s case.
Kiner-Falefa is flourishing at third base, Jung’s position. Kiner-Falefa is also serving as a roadblock to Sherten Apostel.
So, the wait to see Jung is likely on hold until spring training.
It’s not personal. It’s business.
Tough luck
The Rangers needed a roster spot to make room for Huff on the active roster, and outfielder Scott Heineman drew the short straw.
Woodward admitted after the move that it was a difficult decision and difficult conversations to have with Heineman. Woodward believes Heineman’s numbers don’t reflect how well he’s played this season and especially when given chances lately.
The Rangers, though, have Taveras cemented in center field, with Eli White getting a look ahead of Heineman. White can play all three outfield spots, which was one of the things Heineman brought to the table.
The time at alternate camp could serve Heineman well. He will be getting regular at-bats that give him a chance to apply any changes and tweaks for next spring, when he would be a candidate for the Opening Day roster.
It’s possible Heineman could return should Trevino land on the injured list. However, the Rangers have hopes of activating Willie Calhoun next week and still would like to see Shin-Soo Choo play again this season once his wrist is better, even if just for a handful of games.
As with Jung, the same is true with Heineman.
It’s not personal. It’s business.
Finding the time
Each pregame Zoom call with Woodward for about the past 10 days, it seems, has included a question about how he is going to find playing time for all these young players.
It’s a tough task, it seems, is always the answer.
And it must be. Woodward understands that he is dealing with potentially fragile young players and potentially fragile egos of the older players whose time is being taken away.
Woodward could blame general manager Jon Daniels, since that’s what most of the fans seem to be doing. Instead, it seems as if he’s being open and honest with those being usurped.
Odor, for instance, has been told he hasn’t played well enough to play every day. Andrus has been told what to expect, and Choo has also been consulted.
Next up for Woodward should be moving more aggressively in practicing what he has preached over the final 17 games.
Put Andrus at shortstop, Tejeda at second base, White in left field and Nick Solak at designated hitter. Once Calhoun is ready, Tejeda plays short, Solak plays second, White plays left and Calhoun is the DH.
Once Choo is ready, go Tejeda at short, Solak at second, a White/Choo platoon in left and Calhoun at DH.
Andrus should play some, or at least more than Odor. When Andrus is at shortstop, Tejeda should move to second, Solak to left and Choo becomes the DH.
Problem solved.
It’s not personal. It’s business.
