Barring an unforeseeable trade, Jace Jung will be handed the keys as the primary 3rd basemen going into the season. After attending Texas Tech for 3 years, Jung was drafted 12th overall by the Tigers in 2022.  Jace has shot through the system, hitting well at every level. He currently is the #5 prospect in the Tiger’s organization, and made the full transition to 3rd base from 2nd, during Fall Ball in 2023. Jung debuted in August of 2024, and showed some flashes of potential, playing down the stretch as Detroit made their push towards the playoffs. Jung showed displayed discernment at the dish, rarely expanding his strike zone, while drawing walks at a very high rate.

He struggled to make consistent contact, collecting only 19 hits in 79 official at-bats. 5 of which were for extra bases including no homeruns. Jung also had his fair share of difficulties defensively, posting a -3 (OAA) per baseball savant. Jace will go into the 2025 season off of orthoscopic wrist surgery, an injury that originated back to June, and very likely held him back the second half of last year. When asked about the injury Jung stated,  “It’s one of those weird injuries, “t just lingered and needed to come out. The extra bone needed to come out. The bone was running on the other bone every time I swung. Jung resumed swinging 2 week after the surgery and stated that is felt “unbelievable” and that it was a “big difference”.

Jace Jung, opposite-field home runs in batting practice. #Tigers pic.twitter.com/gTgBSFfXpw

— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) February 15, 2025

Jung will split time this Spring with Matt Vierling who played his fair share of third base last year. With the left side of the infield solidified with Gleyber Torres and Keith, the sure-handed veterans Zach Mckinstry and Andy Ibanez will get most of their looks over at the hot corner. Jung’s upside at the plate gives him the advantage to win the job out of Spring Training, especially if he can continue to improve defensively and cut down on his strikeouts.