Wednesday Newsletter time: With Josh Jung injury news pending, could Justin Foscue slide into picture at third base?
The 2020 first-round pick plays second base but will try the hot corner after the Rangers signed Marcus Semien.
The extent of Josh Jung’s labral strain could be revealed at some point today, and the diagnosis will be a critical part of how the Texas Rangers plan their season.
Labrum injuries are no joke. Many require surgery. They all require months of recovery. Surgery would likely cost Jung the season, or much of it.
So even the best-case scenario is going to force the Rangers to rearrange their plans at third base. For those who missed the deep dive into the possibilities Sunday, check out the Sunday Read now.
One name that was brought up by subscriber Jim Reeves, who has some notches on his belt, was Justin Foscue. And third base has been brought up to Foscue, the 2020 first-round round pick from Mississippi State.
Foscue is second baseman, and the Rangers signed Marcus Semien to a massive contract to play second base. So, chances are Foscue won’t be playing second base in the major leagues — at least not with the Rangers.
He played third base in college, albeit it only temporarily. Foscue is confident he could play anywhere except center fielder and catcher, and he’s willing to do whatever the Rangers want.
But asking him to play this season in the major leagues might be pushing it.
Foscue finished last season at Double A Frisco, logging only 93 of his 228 at-bats after starting at High A Hickory. He continued his season in the Arizona Fall League, where he added 70 more at-bats.
As far as minor-league third basemen go besides Jung, Sherten Apostel made his MLB debut in 2020 but is coming off knee surgery; Davis Wendzel finished at Triple A Round Rock but needs at-bats; Ezequiel Duran is more of a middle infielder and has never played above High A; and Josh Smith has played only shortstop since being drafted by the Yankees in 2019.
So, expect third base to belong to either Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Andy Ibanez or an external candidate.
Hamilton plea bargain
The criminal trial involving former Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton ended Tuesday as the 2010 American League MVP pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unlawful restraint with his hand.
The Tarrant County District Attorney’s office announced the plea more than two years after Hamilton surrendered to police Oct. 30, 2019, on a felony charge of child abuse. He was indicted in April 2020, when the trial became tied up in the backlog of cases caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hamilton pleaded not guilty, and that charge was dropped by the DA before the Class A misdemeanor was filed and agreed upon.
The misdemeanor will be dropped and the case expunged upon Hamilton completing one year of deferred adjudication. He is unable to have contact with his oldest daughter, who accused him of abuse at their home in Keller on Sept. 29, 2019.
Hamilton has been spending his time between his ranch in Central Texas and the Keller home. He continues to share custody of his two youngest daughters.
Labor update
More baby steps were taken toward a new collective bargaining agreement, with the union this time yielding ground. Not a lot of ground, mind you, but ground none the less.
The reporting from Florida, where the owners and players are meeting, once again said that both sides remain unimpressed. The owners again brought up using a mediator, which the union again rejected.
The good news is that the sides plan to meet again today. The players’ deadline for a new CBA is Feb. 28, which they claim is the last day before regular-season games would have to be canceled.
The players have reportedly told MLB owners that they will not agree to an expanded postseason if they are forced to surrender any portion of their regular-season pay. An expanded postseason could make the TV deal worth $100 million, and owners don’t want to surrender that possible windfall.
Doggy video!
Our Lily dog hasn’t gone this far, but I wouldn’t put it past her. Enjoy. See you Thursday.
Why does everyone keep leaving David wendzel out of the picture at third base ,I do remember he was a pretty good hitter in college and before injury in the minors but still a third basemen