DETROIT — When the 2025 MLB schedule came out last summer, the date jumped out at Jeff Jung right away.
Detroit Tigers versus Texas Rangers. In Detroit. On Mother’s Day weekend.
For Jeff and his wife, Mary, the serendipity seemed too good to be true. There was a chance their sons would be on the same field for the first time as professionals. Josh Jung plays third base for the Rangers. Jace Jung plays third base for the Tigers.
“There are only 30 third basemen in Major League Baseball,” Jeff said Friday evening, leaning over from a green seat at Comerica Park.
The rest went unspoken. Two of those third basemen were raised in the same household.
“When you think about it that way, you’re just like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” Mary said.
In a house like that, you can bet there were rowdy times. Raised in San Antonio, the boys were born with incessant competitive drives. Both went on to play baseball at Texas Tech. Both blossomed into first-round draft picks. Josh is the eldest by three years.
“He’s our thinker,” Mary said.
But growing up, younger brother Jace was never the type to back down.
“He’s more get-in-your-face,” Jeff said.
“Fiery,” Mary said.
“Yep,” Jeff said, grinning. “That’s what Mom calls it.”
Back when they were just kids with big dreams, they…
