1st All-Star honor just the start for youngster Jung

It’s nearing 11:30 p.m. CT and Globe Life Field has nearly emptied out, save for a few stadium working and a scattering of writers in the press box. And Rangers rookie third baseman Josh Jung, who walks to home plate with a tee and a bucket of balls.

Jung begins mentally taking reps in the batter's box, going through the exact routine he does during a game, looking at his bat and taking a deep breath before setting up to drive the ball, this time off a tee instead of out of the opposing pitcher’s hand.

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The 25-year-old was coming off an 0-for-4 night in a Rangers loss to the Tigers and felt himself struggling to hit the ball with as much backspin as he usually does naturally.

“I was just getting back to my roots,” Jung said. “You saw me, but I really didn’t know anybody was still here. I thought I was all alone. I was on the phone with my dad for about an hour and a half. I only hit one bucket.”

It may have only been one bucket, but it’s that dedication, according to manager Bruce Bochy, that illustrates exactly why Jung was named the American League All-Star team starter at third base in his first full big league season.

Jung has become not only one of the best rookies in the AL, but one of the best overall third basemen, entering the All-Star break with a .280/.331/.504 slash line while ranking among the AL third base leaders in runs (first, 62), home runs (second, 19), RBIs (second, 56) and average (second, .280).

“It also just shows you how much he cares and how hard he works at being really good at his craft,” Bochy said of Jung’s postgame work. “It’s pretty simple, he was just out here late to get it straight.”

Jung became the first Rangers rookie to start an All-Star Game since the franchise moved to Texas in 1972. The homegrown star was named the AL Rookie of the Month in both April and May, and with Arizona’s Corbin Carroll became part of the second-ever rookie duo to start the same All-Star Game, joining Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto in 2008.

This will be the first time there is one rookie from each League in the starting lineup.

Jung will be joined by Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Jonah Heim and Adolis García in the starting lineup, after García was named as an injury replacement, as well as Nathan Eovaldi on the AL club.

“I think you look at what he's done defensively, what he's done offensively,” Bochy said. “He's been the guy in our five-hole and doing a lot of damage. He's been consistent the whole first half. So he's done all he can to make the team -- I will say that. It's been a pleasure watching his kid. He just brings it every day, the enthusiasm, and he has that youthful energy you love. So yeah, he has just had a tremendous first half.”

The youngster has impressed his veteran teammates as well, even the $500 million veteran middle infield duo of Seager and Semien, as he makes up a quarter of the Rangers' high-powered infield.

“Josh, he's learning in the big leagues on the fly as a young rookie,” Semien said. “He hasn't played more than 70-some odd games in a full season yet. He's earned an All-Star [start], so it's very impressive. … When I was a rookie, I wasn't even close to this. My first first year at this point, I had already gotten sent back down to Triple-A. He works extremely hard and you see why he was drafted so high. He’s only gonna get better.”

For Jung, this personal accomplishment is just the start of what he hopes to be a long, fulfilling big league career.

It’s about his own potential, as well as the potential of the Rangers organization as a whole as they continue to fight for a top spot in the American League.

“It’s crazy,” Jung said. “I'm sure it hasn't really fully hit me yet, but it's definitely really special. When you look back on it, you dream about it, and to do it my first season is truly amazing. ... Making the All-Star Game is great, but it's just one half of the season. Hopefully I just learn from the first half.”