Jace Jung Scouting Report

Jace Jung Scouting Report

Background: The Tigers selected Jace Jung with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 draft. He was an excellent performer for Texas Tech, earning multiple All-American accolades. His older brother Josh was also a first-round pick, and was an MLB All-Star in 2023. Jung got off to a slow start in pro baseball, but had a strong 2023 season. A wrist injury hampered his performance in 2024, but he still made his MLB debut late in the season.

Physical Description: Listed at 6 feet tall, but likely an inch or two shorter than that. Body somewhat pear-shaped, with narrow shoulders and thick, powerful legs.

Hit: 40

Jung employs an unusual setup at the plate, with his bat pointed backward and his hands in awkward looking positions. His pure contact skills are a little below average, with more in-zone swing-and-miss than is ideal, particularly against fastballs thrown 94 mph or harder. Jung does have a strong eye, and he rarely chases out of zone, so he should post at least average walk rates.

Power: 55

Jung’s raw power is closer to average than plus, with middling exit velocity numbers in Triple-A. However, he consistently puts the ball in the air at ideal launch angles, and he’s adept at both pulling the ball for home runs and driving the ball deep off the wall the opposite way. Contact issues may prevent him from reaching his power ceiling, but he still has enough pop to hit 25 home runs a year.

Run: 30

Well below-average runner who routinely posts home-to-first times above 4.5 seconds. Not a base stealing threat and struggles to take the extra base.

Defense: 40

Fringe-average defender at second base. A gamer type who lacks ideal range, but he makes plays on just about everything he gets to, and his arm is adequate with solid accuracy. Closer to a 30-grade defender at third base. Poor lateral agility sometimes prevents him from picking the ball clearly, leading to bobbles, boots, and rushed throws. Shows a solid arm and good throwing accuracy when he isn’t rushed.

Arm: 45

Shows fringe-average arm strength. Might not turn every double play possible at second base, but throws with accuracy. Shows some feel for throwing accurately from different arm angles at third, but often take a bit too long to gather himself.

Overall: Jung remains a bat-first prospect, and he has continued to produce and refine his offensive game at each step along the minor-league ladder. His secondary tools are lacking, though, and we don’t think the experiment at third base is going to work. We also have real concerns about his ability to make consistent contact at the MLB level, but he’s patient and has enough power to develop into a solid three-true-outcomes type, with a chance at becoming an average regular in time.

Updated 6/20/24