The Texas Rangers enter 2026 knowing that standing pat is no longer an option. Two years removed from a World Series title, Texas just finished an 81–81 season that felt heavier than the record suggests. The offense sputtered, the lineup lacked fear, and too many positions felt unsettled. No spot captures that tension more clearly than third base, where the organization faces a defining decision: trust Josh Jung to reclaim his trajectory, or seriously consider a proven alternative like Eugenio Suárez.
Josh Jung’s Moment Of Truth Has Arrived
Jung’s résumé still carries weight inside the organization. In 2023, he looked like a cornerstone, earning an All-Star nod, starting at third base for the American League, and finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting. He combined power, solid defense, and an edge that fit perfectly with Texas’ championship identity. Since then, however, the production has slipped. Injuries derailed his 2024 season, and while he stayed healthier in 2025, the bat never fully followed.
The numbers tell a clear story. Jung struck out at a high rate, chased too often, and struggled against elevated fastballs and breaking balls off the plate. Pitchers adjusted, and Jung didn’t counter quickly enough. For a Rangers lineup that desperately needs on-base ability and run production, that regression matters. New manager Skip Schumaker has emphasized competition across the roster, and Jung is no exception. This is no longer about pedigree or past accolades. It’s about results.
If Jung is going to hold the hot corner long-term, the adjustment has to start with approach. Working deeper counts, shrinking the strike zone, and forcing pitchers back into the zone would allow his natural power to reappear. The Rangers don’t need Jung to be perfect, but they do need him to be dangerous again. Without that, the leash shortens quickly.
Why Eugenio Suárez Fits The Rangers’ Urgency
That urgency is why Suárez looms as such an intriguing option. At 34, he doesn’t represent the future, but he embodies reliability and thump—two things Texas sorely lacked. Suárez is coming off a massive power season, launching 49 home runs with a 125 wRC+ and nearly four wins above replacement. Even with a lower batting average, his ability to change games with one swing remains intact.
For a Rangers team operating with limited financial flexibility, Suárez offers a more realistic upgrade than chasing elite free agents. He would immediately lengthen the lineup, protect the middle of the order, and inject veteran presence into a clubhouse searching for consistency. Just as importantly, his arrival would remove all ambiguity from third base. Jung would no longer be handed the job. He would have to earn it.
That internal pressure might be exactly what Texas needs. Competition sharpened this roster during its championship run, and the absence of it showed in 2025. Adding Suárez wouldn’t be a declaration that Jung has failed. It would be an acknowledgment that the Rangers can’t afford another season of waiting.
The Rangers don’t need to choose between development and contention, but they do need accountability. If Jung steps up, the position becomes a strength again. If he doesn’t, Suárez offers a clear, productive fallback. Either way, the message is unmistakable: 2026 will not be another year of excuses at third base.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Former First-Round Pick Must Deliver or Rangers Will Pivot appeared first on Heavy Sports.