Detroit Tigers infielder Jace Jung, right, practices next to infielder Zach McKinstry during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, FL. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Detroit Tigers Send Top Prospect Jace Jung to Minors Following Shaky Spring

Originally posted on Minor League Baseball on SI
By Sam Connon | Last updated Mar 17, 2025 9:56 AM ET

The Detroit Tigers have optioned infielder Jace Jung to Triple-A Toledo, the team announced Monday morning.

Jung, the No. 7 prospect in the Tigers' farm system, was competing to start at third base on Opening Day. The 2022 first round pick presumably saw his chances of breaking camp on the active roster improve when it became clear that utility man Matt Vierling would start the season on the injured list with a strained rotator cuff.

And yet, Jung hit just .121 with a .489 OPS through 14 Grapefruit League games this spring. The front office evidently thought the 24-year-old could use more time in the minors before taking on full-time role in the big leagues.

Left-handed pitcher Sean Guenther was also sent down to Triple-A alongside Jung.

We have optioned left-handed pitcher Sean Guenther and infielder Jace Jung to Triple-A Toledo.

Major League camp now has 39 players.
— Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) March 17, 2025

Jung was a consensus top 100 prospect entering the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He topped out as the Tigers' No. 2 prospect two years ago, then made it to No. 60 in MLB Pipeline's preseason top 100 in 2024.

Jung made his MLB debut in 2024, batting .241 with a .666 OPS and -0.5 WAR across 34 games, narrowly clinging onto his rookie eligibility.

Through 253 minor league appearances, he is a .259 hitter with 44 home runs, 57 doubles, 158 RBIs, 175 walks and an .845 OPS.

Detroit is now likely to platoon Trey Sweeney and Javier Báez at shortstop with utility men Andy Ibáñez and Zach McKinstry shouldering the load at third until Vierling returns or Jung earns a promotion.

Jung's absence opens up another bench spot, which could go to infielder Ryan Kreidler, outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy or utility man Jahmai Jones. Spencer Torkelson is now expected to make the roster as the Tigers' designated hitter with Colt Keith sliding over from second to first to accommodate the arrival of free agent Gleyber Torres.

Top prospects catcher Thayron Liranzo and infielder Hao-Yu Lee were already reassigned to minor league camp last week.

This article first appeared on Minor League Baseball on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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