Jung pulls double duty as player, fan in Arizona

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Jace Jung knew the secret elixir to getting his older brother's swing back on track after Josh went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts for the Rangers in Game 3 of the World Series.

Ice cream.

“I sent him a picture of [Chase] Field and I put an ice cream cone in right-center field,” Jace said. “I just told him, ‘You know, a lot of hits go this way.’ Growing up, we always loved ice cream, always ate it almost every night. [It was] just kind of one of those silly, goofy moments – ice cream somehow played a role in him getting going."

The elder Jung collected four hits over the next two contests, including a double to the gap in right-center field in Game 4. A sweet treat, indeed.

Need more Ice Cream! 🍦 #junglecat https://t.co/AEONpJp02Q

— Jacejung2 (@jace17jung) November 1, 2023

That Jace was able to be in attendance for the Rangers' World Series-clinching victory Wednesday was a confluence of events that not even the Tigers’ fourth-ranked prospect would have believed when he was tabbed to be a Fall League participant back in September.

“I don't know if you had told me … that the Diamondbacks would be in the World Series and the Rangers would be playing them, I would have said, 'No way,'” said Jung. “But you know, that's just the great game of baseball and God's got a plan. I mean, somehow I was able to be here … be able to go to all the road games and really cheer him on as he goes for the World Series [title].”

Hours before Josh manned the hot corner for Texas in Game 5 at Chase Field, Jace did the same for the Salt River Rafters at the Peoria Sports Complex. One of the highest-profile participants in the premier prospect showcase, MLB's No. 67 overall prospect collected a knock and drew a walk – upping his Fall League on-base percentage to .446 – before quickly jetting toward downtown Phoenix minutes after the final out was recorded.

Seated down the first-base line amidst a throng of Rangers faithful, Jace and the Jung family watched the franchise claim its first World Series crown. After the game, the brothers – Texas natives – embraced on the field.

“It was one of those things as a child you dream of playing wiffle ball and all that kind of stuff,” said Jung.

So proud!! We need to find ice cream now!!! 🍦 https://t.co/agRThKUerR

— Jacejung2 (@jace17jung) November 2, 2023

Winning a ring is becoming something of a trend for the Brothers Jung, whose careers have mirrored one another thus far. Josh was selected with the eighth overall pick out of Texas Tech in 2019, just four picks ahead of Jace in ‘22, who was also an All-American during his time with the Red Raiders. Jace ended his ‘23 campaign with Double-A Erie, helping the club win its own first championship in franchise history.

But Jace did one-up his brother in the home run column this season. He delivered 14 roundtrippers in 81 games with High-A West Michigan, before taking off upon arriving in Double-A with 14 more in a 47-game stint. While Josh was hampered by a fractured left thumb that cost him six weeks, he finished with 23 long balls at the big league level.

“I was like, ‘Yeah, I got more homers than Josh this year,’” Jace said to a member of the Rangers’ coaching staff. “And Josh goes, ‘Well, I got a World Series ring.’”