After an injury to All-Star third baseman Josh Jung, the Rangers have reportedly called upon another first-round pick, Justin Foscue, to fill the void. The 2020 first-round pick is set to make his MLB debut almost four years after he was drafted and a solid Minor League career.
A Look at Foscue
It’s been nearly four years since the Rangers drafted infielder Justin Foscue in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft. Foscue was a standout at Mississippi State, where he showed good contact ability and power. In his sophomore season in Oxford, Foscue hit 14 home runs and 36 extra-base hits over 67 games.
Foscue jumped up prospect boards in 2021 after a strong, yet brief run in High-A ball, where he hit 14 home runs and 26 extra-base hits over 33 games. He hasn’t developed into that high-end talent since then, as he’s yet to crack 20 home runs in a single season, but he’s still poised to be an asset for the Rangers.
The right-handed hitting Foscue has an upright, slightly open stance at the plate with a big leg kick, has power, and shows the ability to get on balls over the plate. Yes, he does lean pull-heavy but he can take balls either straight to center or stay in and go the other way if need be.
Foscue demonstrated a good approach at the plate that allowed him to stay with pitches, not strike out too much, and get on base either by hitting his way there and drawing a walk. Last season, Foscue walked more (85) than he struck out (70).
And for his Minor League career, the Rangers infielder owns a career OBP of .379.
Defensively, Foscue is a second baseman by trade but did start seeing time at third starting in 2022. Since then, the MSU product’s played at second, third, and most recently, first base.
The Rangers reportedly promoted Justin Foscue after third baseman Josh Jung suffered a broken wrist during Texas’ game on April 1.
Analysis
Foscue headed into the 2024 campaign with an unclear path to the Majors, given the presence of Marcus Semien at second and Jung at third. The 25-year-old, though, should get a lengthy look at third while Jung is on the IL.
Should Foscue do well with the big club, it’ll be interesting to see how the Rangers look to squeeze him into their long-term plans. Texas’ infield is deep when at full health, as the Rangers’ World Series-winning infield also included Nathaniel Lowe and Corey Seager.
Foscue could be an option at the DH slot but fellow former first-round pick Wyatt Langford‘s impressed early on in his MLB career.
Fantasy Impact
Foscue does have some interesting fantasy potential, especially since in some formats, including Yahoo!, he’s eligible to play first, second, and third.
There’s a lot of protection in Texas’ lineup, so it is possible that with his tools, he could be a productive piece in the wake of Jung’s injury.