Lineup Shuffle: Skip Schumaker Moves Josh Jung to Ninth Spot to Spark Rangers’ Offense

In a bid to ignite a sluggish start to the 2026 campaign, Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker has turned to a tactical experiment. During Monday’s matchup against the Seattle Mariners, Schumaker shifted third baseman Josh Jung to the ninth spot in the batting order, a move designed to navigate a particularly difficult pitching matchup and locate a more productive rhythm for the team’s offense.

The decision was primarily driven by the presence of Mariners starter Logan Gilbert. History has not been kind to Jung in this pairing; the Rangers’ third baseman is currently 0-for-14 in his career against Gilbert. With other hitters such as Joc Pederson and Josh Smith holding slightly better numbers against the right-hander, Schumaker opted to drop Jung in the order, hoping a lower-pressure spot would aid the young star find his timing.

For Jung, batting ninth is a rare occurrence. This game marked only the fourth time in his professional career that he has occupied the final spot in the lineup. As the Rangers move through the first four games of the 2026 MLB season, Schumaker has indicated that while the top four or five spots in the order are relatively stable based on the opposing pitcher, the middle and bottom of the lineup remain fluid as players work through their early-season comfort levels.

The move comes at a critical juncture for Jung’s personal production. Through 32 at-bats in the 2026 regular season, Jung is hitting .188 with zero home runs, one RBI and a .400 OPS. While these numbers are a dip from his career averages—where he holds a .253 batting average, 49 home runs, and a .716 OPS over 1,268 at-bats—the Rangers view him as a cornerstone of their young core.

As Editor-in-Chief of Archysport, I have seen many managers attempt to “hide” a struggling star or “spark” them by changing their environment in the lineup. In my years reporting from the NFL and NBA, these adjustments often serve as a psychological reset as much as a tactical one. For a player of Jung’s caliber, the goal is simple: break the streak and regain the confidence that made him a household name in Arlington.

The Rise of a Texas Star

Josh Jung’s trajectory with the Rangers has been nothing short of impressive since he was drafted out of Texas Tech in the first round (8th overall) of the 2019 MLB Draft. He made his debut on September 9, 2022, and quickly ascended the ranks. By 2023, Jung had earned his first All-Star selection, making history as the first Texas rookie to start in an All-Star Game when he took the field as the American League’s starting third baseman in Seattle on July 11, 2023.

Baseball runs deep in the Jung family. His father, Jeff, is a longtime high school coach for both baseball and football in Texas. The athletic pedigree extends to his younger brother, Jace Jung, who as well played for Texas Tech before being selected 12th overall by the Detroit Tigers in the 2022 MLB Draft. The brothers’ professional paths crossed in 2024 when Jace made his MLB debut for the Tigers. In a moment of sibling support, Josh was spotted in the stands in Chicago on August 26, 2024, filming Jace hit a single during a Tigers game against the White Sox while the Rangers were on an off-day.

Beyond the Diamond: Community and Character

While the current focus remains on his performance at the plate, Jung has established himself as a significant figure in the Texas community. In January 2025, he partnered with Major League Wiffle Ball to host the inaugural ‘Backyard Battle’ wiffle ball tournament at Globe Life Field. The event, which saw roughly 80 youth teams compete, raised over $10,000 for the Miracle League—a non-profit providing sports opportunities for children and young adults regardless of ability—and the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation.

Jung’s commitment to the Miracle League continued throughout the 2025 season through the “Home Runs for a Miracle” initiative, where he pledged a donation for every home run he hit. Off the field, the third baseman is known as an avid collector of baseball cards and comic books, citing Captain America as his favorite superhero.

Tactical Implications for the Rangers

The Rangers’ slow start to the 2026 season has placed a premium on Schumaker’s ability to iterate on the fly. By experimenting with the lineup, the manager is attempting to maximize the efficiency of his hitters against specific pitching profiles. The logic is clear: if a player is struggling historically against a specific arm like Logan Gilbert, moving them down the order reduces the immediate impact of a potential out while allowing other, more successful hitters to lead the charge.

The success of this experiment will likely be measured not just by Jung’s performance in a single game, but by whether it helps the Rangers’ offense as a whole find a spark. With only a few games played, the team is still in the “discovery” phase of their seasonal chemistry.

As the Rangers continue their early-season push, all eyes will be on whether these lineup tweaks can translate into wins. The team’s ability to adapt to the opposing pitcher’s strengths will be a defining characteristic of Schumaker’s managerial approach this year.

The Rangers will continue their series against the Seattle Mariners, with further updates on lineup configurations expected as the team seeks to stabilize its offense.

What do you think of Schumaker’s move to drop Jung in the order? Let us know in the comments below.