Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday that Jung (wrist) "looks great" after resuming hitting, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Jung was cleared to hit Tuesday following a visit with the doctor that performed the surgery on his right wrist in early April. He hit for a second straight day Wednesday while using a lighter bat, with Bochy saying afterward that "you'd think he was going to be ready in a couple of days" based on how he looked. Jung is not going to be ready to return soon, of course, but this is an encouraging progress report. A clearer timetable for the third baseman could be established in the coming days.
Jung (wrist) still appears to be at least six weeks from returning to the lineup, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Jung has yet to pick up a bat after undergoing surgery on his right wrist April 2 and is expected to be reevaluated in another 10-to-14 days before being cleared to start taking swings. The initial timeline for his return was 6-to-8 weeks, which was later adjusted to 10-to-12 weeks, and he now appears to be tracking toward the latter end of that estimation, if not later. The repair of his fractured wrist proved to be trickier than initially anticipated, and Texas will likely be cautious in its approach with the budding star at third base, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him back until late June or early July.
Jung (wrist) played catch on the field prior to Wednesday's game against the Guardians, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Playing catch amounts to Jung's first known baseball activity since he underwent surgery April 2 to address a fractured right wrist. While being able to throw with his surgically repaired wrist is a step in the right direction, hitting high-velocity pitching will be the real test for Jung. He still looks to be a week or more away from doing that, as Rangers general manager Chris Young previously said that Jung is facing an 8-to-10-week recovery timeline after more damage to his wrist than expected was detected when surgery was performed, per MLB.com. Fantasy managers shouldn't bank on Jung returning from the IL until around early-to-mid June in a best-case scenario.
