The Detroit Tigers are going through a rough patch right now, but it’s hard not to think of how far they’ve come.
Even after losing 11 of their past 12 games, the Tigers still own a 60-45 record and hold a 7.5-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians entering Saturday’s game with the Toronto Blue Jays. The renaissance that began after last year’s trade deadline has made a lot of Detroit’s farmhands into household names and has opened a World Series window with ace Tarik Skubal leading the way.
It’s a lot for Tigers fans to be excited about – especially with top prospects Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle on the way. But for a former first-round pick that was projected to be part of Detroit’s future, he could be looking for a new beginning as the trade deadline approaches.
Tigers IF Jace Jung on Chopping Block Ahead of MLB Trade Deadline
The 12th overall pick in the 2022 draft, Jace Jung was tabbed as the Tigers’ third baseman of the future entering this season. A consensus top 100 prospect entering the 2024 season, Jung displayed massive power with a .328/.348/.647 batter’s line and with 39 homers and 147 RBI in 136 career games with Texas Tech, and quickly rose through the minor leagues, making his major league debut with Detroit last season.
But while Jung’s baseball card looked great, he hasn’t found his footing in the majors. He had the typical acclimation period when he was called up last August, hitting .241/.362/.304 in 34 games at the end of last season, and those issues continued when he went 5-for-45 at the plate with no extra base hits, seven walks, and 15 strikeouts in his first 18 games to start this season. A trip to Triple-A Toledo hasn’t solved anything, as he’s hit .233/.372/.424 with 10 homers and 35 RBI in 69 games.
It feels like Jung needs to make a big jump to get back to the major league level, and if the Tigers weren’t a contending team, they could afford to have some patience. But in the middle of a pennant race, Detroit has looked for a power-hitting third baseman that could enhance their chances of making a run. While they don’t seem to be keen on dealing one of the five prospects listed on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects list, they could dangle a 24-year-old prospect that could still break out in the coming years.
This could come in handy when considering the Tigers’ trade targets. Eugenio Suárez is toward the top of many fans’ wish list as the deadline approaches, and Jung could be a solid piece for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who traded first baseman Josh Naylor to the Seattle Mariners on Friday.
The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen also suggested that targets such as Los Angeles Angels reliever Reid Detmers could also be in play, and Miami Marlins starters Edward Cabrera or Sandy Alcántara could be had by dangling a promising bat at the hot corner.
The Tigers definitely would like to buy at the deadline, but they also want to make sure that this year isn’t an “all or nothing situation.” While Detroit’s eye is on the future, Jung has seemingly played his way out of it and could be looking for a fresh start when the deadline passes.