Detroit Tigers Prospect Jace Jung Gets First Taste of World Series

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Detroit Tigers infield prospect Jace Jung and his older brother, Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung, shared a love for ice cream as kids. The Jung brothers, separated in age by about 2½ years, would indulge in ice cream almost every night. Little did they know that their childhood obsession would play a role in the 2023 World Series, where the Rangers secured their franchise’s first championship against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

As Jace watched his older brother from the stands, he relished in his first taste of the World Series. But now, he craves more than just a taste. The Tigers have high hopes that the 23-year-old Jace will join their young core of players during the 2024 season.

“A lot of ice cream this way,” Jace Jung said on Thursday, reflecting on his brother’s Game 5 victory. “It might be a strange, silly, and goofy thing, but he understood its significance.”

Josh Jung, who had a shot at winning American League Rookie of the Year if not for a left thumb fracture that sidelined him from early August until mid-September, had an impressive postseason run. He batted .308 with three home runs (eight extra-base hits) in 17 games. He played every game in the World Series.

Following Game 3, where Josh went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, the Jung brothers, both first-round draft picks, discussed hitting. The next morning, Jace sent Josh a strategically chosen photo of Chase Field, with a soft-serve ice cream emoji superimposed in right-center field.

“It wasn’t about baseball,” said Jace Jung. “It was just an image of ice cream going the other way. Sure enough, Josh’s first hit in Game 4 was a double to right-center field. I just wanted to boost his confidence and get him in the zone.”

Josh Jung indeed smashed a two-strike sinker off left-hander Joe Mantiply into right-center field, fulfilling his young brother’s request for opposite-field ice cream. The Rangers went on to win Game 4 with an impressive 11-7 final score, putting them just one win away from celebrating a World Series championship.

In Game 5 at Chase Field, the Rangers sealed the deal with a 5-0 victory, claiming their first-ever World Series title.

Chase Field, located near where Jace Jung has been playing Arizona Fall League games with the Salt River Rafters, held special significance for him. “Being there was truly a remarkable experience,” Jace Jung said. “I feel more nervous watching him from the stands than when I’m on the field playing… You don’t have any control over the outcome when you’re in the stands.”

Before Game 5, Jace played third base, a new position for him, in a game against the Peoria Javelinas. He made an incredible diving play to end the fifth inning, leaving two runners stranded in scoring position. After the game, Jace hurried to Chase Field, approximately 30 miles away, to support his brother, who started at third base for the Rangers in Game 5.

Together, the Jung brothers triumphantly celebrated the World Series championship on the field.

“That’s where I want to be,” Jace Jung said. “I want to compete for championships and play in the postseason. That’s where the fun happens… Seeing how close they were as a team after the game was really special.”

In addition to their World Series victory, the Jung brothers also obtained another ring in 2023. In the minor leagues, Jace Jung, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 draft out of Texas Tech, delivered an impressive performance. He hit .265 with 28 home runs, 79 walks, and 139 strikeouts in 128 games with High-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie, resulting in an .878 OPS. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the Tigers’ No. 4 prospect and the No. 67 prospect overall.

Jace Jung’s outstanding play earned him a promotion to Double-A Erie in late July. During his time there, he hit .284 with 14 home runs in 47 games and led the SeaWolves to an Eastern League championship, marking the first league championship in SeaWolves history.

The Tigers anticipate Jace Jung making his MLB debut in the second half of the 2024 season, especially if they are in contention for the postseason. However, this timeline is subject to Jung’s development, particularly in terms of his defense at his older brother’s primary position.

“I’ll take it one step at a time,” Jung emphasized. “I’ll work hard with the Tigers day in and day out, with the goal of reaching the top next year. Regardless of where I end up, the ultimate objective is to win a championship.”

Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers prospect Jace Jung gets first taste of World Series

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