Detroit Tigers prospect Jace Jung lands on Triple-A injured list with right wrist soreness
Detroit Tigers prospect Jace Jung's road to the majors has hit a speedbump.
The 23-year-old, whom the Tigers selected No. 12 overall in the 2022 draft, landed on the seven-day injured list Friday with Triple-A Toledo because of right wrist soreness. Jung swings from the left side of the plate, but he throws with his right hand.
The Tigers didn't elaborate on the severity of the injury.
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In 2024, Jung is hitting .270 with 11 home runs, 47 walks and 64 strikeouts across 64 games with Triple-A Toledo, spanning 283 plate appearances. He owns a .465 on-base percentage through 16 games in June, but in his past six games, he has hit just 2-for-19 (.105).
Jung is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Tigers' No. 3 prospect.
The Mud Hens scratched Jung from Thursday's starting lineup.
Jung has started 43 games at third base, making 11 errors in 104 chances. He is a much better defender at second base, where he won a minor-league Gold Glove last season.
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But the Tigers transitioned Jung from second base to third base in last year's Arizona Fall League because second baseman Colt Keith — who lacks arm strength because of a previous shoulder injury — is confined to playing on the right side of the infield for the Tigers.
For Jung, third base has been a struggle on defense. He also struggles to hit high-velocity fastballs on offense.
Jung is hitting .235 with a .181 expected batting average on fastballs that register at least 93 mph, which is worse than Triple-A teammates Parker Meadows (at .344 with a .308 expected) and Spencer Torkelson (at .286 with a .253 expected.)
How about fastballs at 95+ mph?
On those pitches, Jung is hitting .154 with a .166 expected batting average. That's a real problem to monitor when Jung returns from his wrist issue.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers prospect Jace Jung lands on Triple-A injured list with right wrist soreness
