Jace Jung

Being a first-round pick is in the Jung bloodlines, as older brother Josh was selected eighth overall in the 2019 draft by the Rangers. There is a chance the younger Jung can top that pick, as he put together another stellar spring campaign. The sturdy 6-foot, 205-pound lefthanded hitter is one of the best pure bats in the college class. Jung brings an old-school approach to the plate in terms of hitting the ball where it’s pitched and has displayed power to all fields in his time at Texas Tech. His gap-to-gap approach will remain the same in the pro ranks and his home run power should translate to a wood bat as well. Though his offensive setup is unique (with the bat head pointed to the backstop), after his load he is in a perfect position to strike and let his hands work. Like most offensive threats, Jung does have a tendency to get “too big” or over swing trying to do too much. However, plate discipline is not a problem, as Jung walked 59 times compared to 42 strikeouts this spring and has a career walk rate of 19.9%. Defensively, Jung won’t wow you with an overall athletic profile, but you can count on the routine plays being made with an average, accurate arm. His baseball IQ and adequate reads off the bat will allow him to stay on the dirt at the next level, with most action being at second base, third base or first base if needed. Jung backs his game up with very high makeup. Certainly the type of player you want in the clubhouse as his leadership at Texas Tech speaks for itself. With Jung’s high baseball IQ, plate discipline and hit tool with power behind it, he could be a fast-mover through a minor league system and should go in the top half of the first round.