SURPRISE, Ariz. — A relatively healthy Texas Rangers camp has hit its first real obstacle.
Third baseman Josh Jung (hamstring strain) and infielder Justin Foscue (grade one adductor strain) will both be sidelined from baseball activities for at least 10 days, Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Saturday morning. Jung had already missed three days of games at the time of Schumaker’s announcement and Foscue had missed four.
Schuamaker believes that Jung could return to game action “quicker than maybe that 14-day mark.” The 27-year-old hit .333/.333/.500 in his first three Cactus League games with an average exit velocity of 98.7 mph on five batted balls.
“I thought he was trending in the right direction,” Schumaker said. “Honestly, if there’s stuff happening, I’d rather it happen now. Hopefully it’s 10-ish days and he can come back March 10. He still has two weeks to get ready [for opening day] and I think that’s plenty of time.”
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Foscue is in competition for a roster spot and had slashed .571/.571/.714 in three games before he exited Monday’s contest at the Los Angeles Angels with what was originally classified as hamstring tightness. The 26-year-old former first-round draft pick was in line to receive a fair amount of at bats this spring with infielder Cody Freeman (lumbar stress reaction) sidelined for the majority of camp and Jung out. He’s expected to miss a full two weeks before he can play in a game.
“It doesn’t change anything as far as his chances,” Schumaker said. “He’s just going to lose at bats which, you know, sucks for him. But I think as far as him breaking camp or anything, there’s still four weeks left, he’ll still have two weeks left of camp.”
Right-handed pitcher Jose Corniell, the club’s fourth-ranked prospect per Baseball America, has yet to pitch in a Cactus League game because he’s dealt with soreness in his back and triceps area. The 22-year-old threw a side session Thursday and “all the numbers were where they should be,” according to Schumaker.
The Rangers will wait to see how he responds from the bullpen before they finalize his next steps.
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