Why eye black has Jung on point after return

This story was excerpted from Jason Beck’s Tigers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Jace Jung returned to Comerica Park this week ready to don some eye black. It wasn’t a reaction to the sun shining from over the first-base stands at the start of night games, or preparation for a dose of day games. For Jung, it’s a mentality.

It’s a throwback to Jung’s college career at Texas Tech, when he was trying to prove he was just as much the prospect that his older brother Josh was. But he was also trying to win, trying to lead the Red Raiders on NCAA Tournament runs. They made the Super Regionals in 2021 and the Regional finals in 2022 before falling to Notre Dame.

Jung, of course, went to the Tigers with the 12th overall pick in the 2022 Draft.

“I just go out there and have fun, kinda get back to my college days, going out there with a little chip on your shoulder, go prove somebody wrong,” Jung said Tuesday. “I got the eye black back on. I should’ve put it on in Spring Training, but I went back to the eye black, so now we go.”

Jung has had the eye black at times in his pro career and not had it at others. He can’t explain why he didn’t have it in Spring Training, but with everything going on around him, it’s understandable how he could get away from it.

He reported to camp with an uncertain role while the Tigers pursued free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. Once Bregman signed with the Red Sox in mid-February, Jung looked like the top option at third base. But he struggled to hit in Grapefruit League play, going 4-for-33 (.121) with one home run and 10 strikeouts, and was optioned to Triple-A Toledo with about a week to go.

Once the Mud Hens’ season began, Jung said, the eye black went on.

“You just have to put a chip on your shoulder, go out there, try to compete and get back as soon as possible,” he said. “It’s not easy getting sent down. That’s probably one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had. But just be able to go out there and grind, have fun and find the joy in the game … I had fun with those guys down there, and every guy down there in Toledo helped me get back to where I am right now, so I really appreciate all those guys.

“This game, little kids grow up playing it, I grew up playing it. That was kinda my mentality going down: 'Have fun, enjoy these moments with these guys down here and try to compete.'”

While the Tigers went with a mix of Zach McKinstry, Javier Báez and Andy Ibá?ez at third base, Jung bounced between third and second base in Toledo, often alternating with fellow Tigers prospect Hao-Yu Lee (team No. 7). Jung hit .239 but posted an .872 OPS thanks to hitting for power -- half of his 16 hits went for extra bases, including three home runs -- and reaching base with 20 walks.

“It’s the way I’ve been pitched,” Jung said. “They’re trying to nick the corners, and they have the ABS [challenge system].”

Even without a challenge system, Jung’s on-base skills paid dividends upon arrival in Detroit. He walked twice and scored in Monday’s series opener against the Padres before going 0-for-3 against Nick Pivetta the next day.

Jung figures to get a good look at third base in the coming games, in part because the Orioles have three right-handed starting pitchers lined up for this weekend’s series at Comerica Park. While McKinstry has been one of the Tigers’ hottest hitters, he figures to spend most of his time this weekend in the outfield while Kerry Carpenter eases back from his hamstring injury at designated hitter. From there, the Tigers will likely do more mixing and matching.

Jung is ready for it. But he also doesn’t want to lose sight of what got him back here. Hence the eye black.

“Just go out there and have fun,” he said. “That’s the little kid in me. Let’s go out there, have fun, go out and have a good time with these guys and win games.”