Jace Andrew Jung (yung; born October 4, 2000) is an American professional baseball second baseman and third baseman for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Early life and amateur career
Jung grew up in San Antonio, Texas and attended Douglas MacArthur High School.
Jung enrolled at Texas Tech University to play college baseball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Jung batted .264 through 19 games of his true freshman season before it was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a redshirt freshman, Jung and was named the Big 12 Conference Baseball Player of the Year after batting for a .337 average with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs. During the summer of 2021, he played for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League, batting .219 while playing second base. Jung was named the preseason Big 12 Player of the Year going into his redshirt sophomore season.
Professional career
The Detroit Tigers selected Jung in the first round, with the 12th overall selection, of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the team on July 25, 2022, and received a $4,590,300 signing bonus. Jung made his professional debut with the High–A West Michigan Whitecaps, batting .232/.373/.333. He split the 2023 campaign between West Michigan and the Double–A Erie SeaWolves, slashing .265/.376/.502 with 28 home runs and 82 RBI over 128 total games, and playing second base. He then played for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League, and batted .200/.385/.300, switching to third base.
Jung began 2024 with the Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens, playing in 91 games and slashing .257/.377/.454 with 14 home runs and 60 RBI. On August 16, 2024, Jung was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He was also inserted into the lineup that evening to make his Major League debut. In 34 games for the Tigers, Jung batted .241/.362/.304 with no home runs and three RBI. He underwent an arthroscopic wrist procedure following the season in October.
Jung was optioned to Triple-A Toledo to begin the 2025 season. He was called up from Toledo on April 21, 2025.
Personal life
Jung's older brother, Josh Jung, also played baseball at Texas Tech and was selected by the Texas Rangers in the first round of the 2019 MLB draft.