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Detroit Tigers third baseman Jace Jung went 229 days without hitting a home run, including 45 days at the MLB level, where he played 34 games and recorded 94 plate appearances after his debut in mid-August 2024.
The 24-year-old finally snapped the drought last Tuesday in a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida.
"It felt good to see one fall over the fence," Jung said.
In the sixth inning, Jung pulled a 90 mph cutter from right-handed reliever Dylan Covey — a 33-year-old who last pitched in the big leagues in 2023 and owns a 6.18 ERA in 100 MLB games — over the right-field wall for a solo home run.
He sprinted around the bases, clearly amped up.
"I can still do it," Jung said.
SAME GOAL: Tigers third baseman Jace Jung sets goal for spring training
Although the Tigers wanted Jung to lock down the third base job after missing out on Alex Bregman in free agency, his struggles in spring training — most notably, failing to generate optimal exit velocities and launch angles when he makes contact — have put his Opening Day roster spot in jeopardy.
Jung has always needed to earn his way, but he might be falling behind in the race to make the team. If not him, Zach McKinstry would likely be the primary third baseman against right-handed pitchers.
There are 11 days until Opening Day.
"You obviously want to — everybody wants to know," Jung said Wednesday, one day after his home run. "I think that's not my decision. I'd be nice to know, but right now, I'm really just trying to grind it out. I'm trying to win every pitch."
STEPPING UP: Tigers' Wenceel Pérez is lock for Opening Day, likely as No. 1 center fielder
Jung entered Sunday hitting .121 (4-for-33) this spring, with two doubles, one home run, four walks and 10 strikeouts in 14 games. The No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 draft collected both doubles in his first two plate appearances; since then, he has just two hits in 35 trips to the plate.
Manager A.J. Hinch evaluated Jung's performance.
"He's trying to do everything in one at-bat," Hinch said March 8. "He's trying to make up for a few at-bats in the very next at-bat. Mentally, we've got to get him to relax a little bit and put a good swing and not miss the pitches that he's being given to hit."
Jung laughed at the idea that he tries to make up for previous at-bats during his current plate appearances.
He doesn't see it that way.
"I'm not trying to make up for anything," Jung said. "I'm just trying to make the team."
Here's the problem: While Jung is making contact to put the ball in play, he has poor contact quality.
To cement a roster spot, Jung would benefit from improving his quality of contact by hitting the ball harder in the final week of spring games. Additionally, he needs to keep making smart swing decisions to maintain above-average plate discipline.
"I just try to go out there and grind out at-bats," said Jung, a .241 hitter with 15 walks and 29 strikeouts throughout his 34-game MLB career. "Right now, it's been a grind trying to grind out at-bats. I'm trying to get my swing off and trying to get it going early. I'm also trying to hit the ball."
Offensive struggles aside, Jung has looked sharp with the glove at third base in spring training — committing no errors. Defense was his biggest question mark entering camp, given his minus-6 defensive runs saved in 190 MLB innings last season, but he has put those concerns to rest.
It seems like Jung is capable at the hot corner.
"That helps a lot, not having to worry about defense," Jung said. "I can just grind it out at the plate. Obviously, I have to grind it out on defense, too. Defense isn't easy, but as long as I move my feet, it puts me in a better position."
The Tigers drafted Jung as a second baseman but shifted him to third base when Colt Keith needed to play second base due to a past shoulder injury. This offseason, the Tigers could've moved Keith to first base to make room for Jung at second, but instead, they signed Gleyber Torres to play second, moved Keith to first and pursued Bregman to play third, only to let Bregman sign elsewhere. Without Bregman, the Tigers immediately shifted their focus to Jung as the team's third baseman.
At third base, Jung's footwork has always been his biggest area for improvement on defense, so that's where he's focusing his efforts in spring training.
"Every day I'm thinking, moving my feet, moving my feet, constantly moving my feet," Jung said. "That's one of the things. I got to keep reminding myself, move the feet. Eventually, one day it becomes second nature. But right now, it's been really working for me — move my feet, keep them moving, get the right hop."
Surprisingly, it's the offense (not the defense) that's lacking.
TORK UPDATE: Why Tigers are trying Spencer Torkelson in right field
Before Tuesday's game, Jung hadn't seen a ball leave the yard for a home run since July 26, 2024, while playing for the Triple-A Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio — a drought of 229 days.
He reminded himself that he can hit home runs.
But Jung isn't sure whether he'll start the 2025 season with the Tigers in MLB or the Mud Hens in Triple-A. A decision will be made soon, determining whether it's Jung or McKinstry as the primary third baseman.
"My swing has been feeling really good," Jung said. "Just not getting the results I wanted. That's why we grind it out early. It's still really early."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers 3B Jace Jung finally homers, but roster spot still open
Continue reading...
The 24-year-old finally snapped the drought last Tuesday in a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida.
"It felt good to see one fall over the fence," Jung said.
In the sixth inning, Jung pulled a 90 mph cutter from right-handed reliever Dylan Covey — a 33-year-old who last pitched in the big leagues in 2023 and owns a 6.18 ERA in 100 MLB games — over the right-field wall for a solo home run.
He sprinted around the bases, clearly amped up.
"I can still do it," Jung said.
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SAME GOAL: Tigers third baseman Jace Jung sets goal for spring training
Although the Tigers wanted Jung to lock down the third base job after missing out on Alex Bregman in free agency, his struggles in spring training — most notably, failing to generate optimal exit velocities and launch angles when he makes contact — have put his Opening Day roster spot in jeopardy.
Jung has always needed to earn his way, but he might be falling behind in the race to make the team. If not him, Zach McKinstry would likely be the primary third baseman against right-handed pitchers.
There are 11 days until Opening Day.
"You obviously want to — everybody wants to know," Jung said Wednesday, one day after his home run. "I think that's not my decision. I'd be nice to know, but right now, I'm really just trying to grind it out. I'm trying to win every pitch."
STEPPING UP: Tigers' Wenceel Pérez is lock for Opening Day, likely as No. 1 center fielder
Jung entered Sunday hitting .121 (4-for-33) this spring, with two doubles, one home run, four walks and 10 strikeouts in 14 games. The No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 draft collected both doubles in his first two plate appearances; since then, he has just two hits in 35 trips to the plate.
Manager A.J. Hinch evaluated Jung's performance.
"He's trying to do everything in one at-bat," Hinch said March 8. "He's trying to make up for a few at-bats in the very next at-bat. Mentally, we've got to get him to relax a little bit and put a good swing and not miss the pitches that he's being given to hit."
Jung laughed at the idea that he tries to make up for previous at-bats during his current plate appearances.
He doesn't see it that way.
"I'm not trying to make up for anything," Jung said. "I'm just trying to make the team."
Here's the problem: While Jung is making contact to put the ball in play, he has poor contact quality.
To cement a roster spot, Jung would benefit from improving his quality of contact by hitting the ball harder in the final week of spring games. Additionally, he needs to keep making smart swing decisions to maintain above-average plate discipline.
"I just try to go out there and grind out at-bats," said Jung, a .241 hitter with 15 walks and 29 strikeouts throughout his 34-game MLB career. "Right now, it's been a grind trying to grind out at-bats. I'm trying to get my swing off and trying to get it going early. I'm also trying to hit the ball."
Offensive struggles aside, Jung has looked sharp with the glove at third base in spring training — committing no errors. Defense was his biggest question mark entering camp, given his minus-6 defensive runs saved in 190 MLB innings last season, but he has put those concerns to rest.
It seems like Jung is capable at the hot corner.
"That helps a lot, not having to worry about defense," Jung said. "I can just grind it out at the plate. Obviously, I have to grind it out on defense, too. Defense isn't easy, but as long as I move my feet, it puts me in a better position."
The Tigers drafted Jung as a second baseman but shifted him to third base when Colt Keith needed to play second base due to a past shoulder injury. This offseason, the Tigers could've moved Keith to first base to make room for Jung at second, but instead, they signed Gleyber Torres to play second, moved Keith to first and pursued Bregman to play third, only to let Bregman sign elsewhere. Without Bregman, the Tigers immediately shifted their focus to Jung as the team's third baseman.
At third base, Jung's footwork has always been his biggest area for improvement on defense, so that's where he's focusing his efforts in spring training.
"Every day I'm thinking, moving my feet, moving my feet, constantly moving my feet," Jung said. "That's one of the things. I got to keep reminding myself, move the feet. Eventually, one day it becomes second nature. But right now, it's been really working for me — move my feet, keep them moving, get the right hop."
Surprisingly, it's the offense (not the defense) that's lacking.
TORK UPDATE: Why Tigers are trying Spencer Torkelson in right field
Before Tuesday's game, Jung hadn't seen a ball leave the yard for a home run since July 26, 2024, while playing for the Triple-A Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio — a drought of 229 days.
He reminded himself that he can hit home runs.
But Jung isn't sure whether he'll start the 2025 season with the Tigers in MLB or the Mud Hens in Triple-A. A decision will be made soon, determining whether it's Jung or McKinstry as the primary third baseman.
"My swing has been feeling really good," Jung said. "Just not getting the results I wanted. That's why we grind it out early. It's still really early."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers 3B Jace Jung finally homers, but roster spot still open
Continue reading...
