Texas Tech Professional Athletes

Josh Jung Reminds Everyone What They've Been Missing

Texas Tech's most prominent MLB alum made his presence felt in a big way this week, and the Texas Rangers couldn't be happier about it.

Josh Jung, the Red Raiders' standout third baseman, was everywhere in the Rangers lineup from Sept. 13–19 — hitting safely in every game he appeared in, posting a pair of home runs, and hovering right around the .298 mark. That's not a return from injury; that's a statement.

The week opened with Jung going 2-for-something in a 6-2 Rangers win over Arizona, driving in a run and crossing the plate himself. He carried that momentum into a Boston series, going 3-for-however-many on Thursday — one of the more complete offensive performances of his week — before adding another home run on Friday in a 3-4 loss to the Red Sox. Even in defeat, Jung was doing his job.

He capped the stretch with another multi-contribution effort in a Saturday doubleheader against Toronto, going 1-for-1 with a homer, an RBI, two runs scored, and a walk across the two games. By Sunday evening, Jung's average sat at .297–.298, a number that speaks to sustained production, not a hot streak. A Sportsnet highlight reel from the Arizona series captured the vibe succinctly: Wyatt Langford homered, Jung collected two hits and an RBI, and the Rangers rolled. That's what a healthy Jung looks like inside a functioning Rangers offense.

For Tech alumni tracking their own in the bigs, Jung is the headliner — and right now, he's playing like it.

The Supporting Cast

Jung wasn't the only Red Raider logging meaningful innings this week.

Davis Martin (White Sox, P) turned in a quietly efficient outing Tuesday against Cleveland, going 5.1 innings and surrendering just one earned run. The White Sox ultimately lost 7-6 — the bullpen couldn't hold it — but Martin's individual line was clean. His ERA settled around 3.96, respectable for a White Sox rotation that has had a rough go of it.

Mason Montgomery (Pirates, P) continued his steady late-season work out of the Pittsburgh bullpen, appearing in three games during the period. He didn't allow a run in any of them, tossing 3.1 total innings across outings against the Cubs, Brewers, and Royals while striking out three. His ERA now sits at 2.63 — the kind of number that earns a guy a longer look heading into the offseason.

Caleb Kilian (Phillies, P) had a tough week off the mound: the right-hander was transferred to the 60-day injured list to clear a 40-man roster spot for the Phillies' waiver claim of José Urquidy. Kilian, 29, now sees his 2026 season effectively ended by injury.

Braxton Fulford (Rockies, C) drew a walk in Colorado's Thursday loss to San Diego, though his .167 average reflects the difficult developmental road for a young catcher on a rebuilding club.

The headliner, though, is Jung. The Rangers needed him healthy and producing — and this week, they got exactly that.

Josh Jung Is Back — and the Rangers Needed Him

Texas Tech's most prominent MLB alumnus made his long-awaited return to Arlington this week. The Rangers activated third baseman Josh Jung from the injured list ahead of their Saturday matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks, reuniting him with a rotation anchor also back from the IL in Nathan Eovaldi.

Jung had been sidelined for more than a month, but his return wasn't rushed — Rangers brass made clear that even his home runs during his rehab stint weren't enough to accelerate the timeline. Texas stuck to the protocol and brought him back when the medical staff signed off, not a moment sooner. Now he's back just as the Rangers push toward the postseason, giving Texas a legitimate offensive weapon at the hot corner when it matters most.

The timing is everything. Playoff chases don't wait, and Jung's return gives Texas Tech fans in the Rangers faithful something real to root for down the stretch.

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Beeter's Rough Stretch Ends in a Demotion — and Nationals History They'd Rather Forget

While Jung's story is one of return and redemption, Clayton Beeter's week went the other direction. The Washington Nationals demoted the former closer to Triple-A as front-office questions about the bullpen mounted ahead of 2027.

The numbers explain the decision. Beeter gave up three earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning against the Dodgers on September 6, then allowed another run in a full inning against the Padres on September 9, with his ERA sitting at 4.60 before his final appearance of the week — a cleaner one-inning, one-strikeout outing against the Angels on September 11 that came too late to save his roster spot.

The broader context is brutal. Beeter and the Nationals bullpen blew their 36th save of the season, leaving Washington just one away from tying the all-time record for blown saves in a single season. The demotion is as much a symbolic reset as a performance decision — the Nationals are clearly looking ahead to 2027 and asking hard questions about who belongs on this roster.

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Davis Martin Turns in a Solid Midweek Start

Not all Red Raider news this week carried high drama. White Sox right-hander Davis Martin took the mound Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates and turned in five solid innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out one. His ERA sits at 4.05 on the season. Chicago entered that game protecting a two-game lead in the AL Central, making Martin's quality start a meaningful contribution.

Coincidentally, Pirates reliever Mason Montgomery — also a Texas Tech product — appeared in relief in the same series, posting a pair of one-inning outings across Wednesday and Thursday with a combined three strikeouts. His ERA stands at a sharp 2.77, a bright spot in an otherwise middling Pittsburgh season.

Red Raider fans watching the White Sox-Pirates series this week got a genuine Texas Tech showcase on both sides of the diamond.

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Hunter Dobbins' Season Is Over Before It Could Finish

The worst news out of the Texas Tech alumni network this week came from St. Louis. Cardinals pitcher Hunter Dobbins underwent reconstructive elbow surgery Wednesday to repair a torn UCL and flexor tendon, with a recovery timeline of approximately 12 months. The 27-year-old had landed on the injured list just weeks prior, and the procedure now wipes out any remaining hope for a 2026 comeback — and casts serious doubt on his availability for the Cardinals' 2027 rotation as well.

The timing stings in multiple directions. St. Louis had been counting on Dobbins as a potential rotation piece heading into next season, and his absence opens the door for others to audition for that spot down the stretch. The Cardinals are already looking ahead, with names like Quinn Matthews drawing attention as potential replacements for the vacancy Dobbins leaves behind. For a Red Raiders fan base that had watched Dobbins carve out a role in the bigs, this is a tough pill — and a long wait ahead.

Jung and Eovaldi Are Trending the Right Way in Arlington

There's more optimistic injury news coming out of the other Texas franchise on the alumni radar. Rangers third baseman Josh Jung — a fellow Red Raider — and starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi are both gaining momentum toward a return to the majors, according to reports out of Arlington. Neither was available for Texas' weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays, but the organization appears cautiously hopeful that both could factor into the September stretch run.

Jung's return would be particularly meaningful for the Rangers, who've been navigating the hot corner without him. The prospect of getting both Jung and Eovaldi back adds significant upside to a Texas roster still trying to push into postseason contention.

Cam Cauley Gets His September Call

In better news for Rangers fans, Cam Cauley — another Lubbock product — was recalled to the major league roster as part of Texas' September additions. The shortstop scored a run in his September 5 appearance against the Rays, showing up on the active roster at the right moment. He's hitting .207 on the year, but just being on the expanded September roster is a milestone worth noting for the young Red Raider.

Elsewhere in the Alumni Network

Davis Martin gave the Chicago White Sox something to feel good about in a week that didn't end well. The right-hander tossed 5.2 innings against the Houston Astros on September 3, striking out three and posting a 4.13 ERA on the season — a solid showing in a game Chicago ultimately dropped. The loss was frustrating given Martin's effort, but his return to form offers some promise for a rebuilding South Side club.

Mason Montgomery continued his steady work out of the Pittsburgh Pirates' bullpen, logging three appearances between August 30 and September 4 with a strikeout in each of his last two outings. His ERA has ticked down to 2.91 on the season — and per one report, the Pirates closer may be getting short-changed on league recognition given the numbers he's putting up.

Clayton Beeter had a mixed week for the Nationals, striking out three across two innings in a strong August 30 outing, then surrendering three earned runs in just one inning on September 1. The results haven't been consistent, but the 26-year-old is logging meaningful big-league innings in Washington's September.

It's been a week that captures Texas Tech's MLB presence in full: a gut-punch injury, cautious optimism, and a handful of contributors quietly doing their jobs across the league.

Mason Montgomery Is Pittsburgh's Shutdown Answer

The Pirates didn't need to look far to find their late-inning anchor — they just needed to let Mason Montgomery loose.

The Texas Tech product is firmly entrenched as Pittsburgh's go-to closer, and the numbers from the week of Aug. 23–29 back it up. Montgomery appeared in three games, posting a combined 3.1 innings, five strikeouts, and zero earned runs across those outings. His ERA sits at 3.13, and the weapon driving his emergence is impossible to ignore: a 101 mph fastball paired with sharp breaking pitches that has batters consistently uncomfortable in the box.

Montgomery worked a clean inning with two punchouts against the Padres on Wednesday, helped protect a 2-1 Pittsburgh lead on Tuesday with 1.1 frames, and finished the week with two more strikeouts Saturday against the Cardinals. Over a stretch in which the Pirates desperately needed someone to trust in the ninth, the Red Raider has delivered. Yahoo Sports named his emergence as one of the more notable bullpen developments of the late-season stretch — high praise for a former Tech arm making a real mark in the majors.

The Rest of the Red Raider Corps

Montgomery grabbed the headlines, but Tech alumni were active across the league all week.

Clayton Beeter had the busiest stretch for any Red Raider not named Montgomery, appearing in three games for the Washington Nationals against the Rockies (Aug. 24–27). His work was mixed: a solid 1.0-inning, two-strikeout performance Monday was bookended by a rougher 0.1-inning outing Wednesday before he bounced back with 1.1 frames Thursday. His ERA settled at 3.61 — respectable for a reliever managing high-leverage innings down the stretch.

Andrew Morris logged four appearances out of the Twins' bullpen, totaling 4.1 innings across the week. The results were uneven — a 9-2 Twins blowout win Tuesday was a comfortable backdrop, but he was touched for three earned runs in the Twins' loss to the Athletics on Thursday and again on Sunday against the Padres. His ERA climbed to 3.82 by week's end.

Patrick Monteverde had a difficult Friday start for the Marlins against Washington, allowing four earned runs over 4.0 innings in a performance that pushed his ERA to 9.00 — a number that reflects the struggles of pitching deep into a lost Marlins season.

Braxton Fulford, catching for the Rockies, was the lone position player with logged activity this week, though his .174 average signals the offensive challenges that have defined his early MLB experience.

The Bigger Picture

Seven Texas Tech alumni logged appearances across six different MLB organizations in a single week — a testament to how reliably Lubbock has produced professional-caliber arms. But it's Montgomery who represents the clearest upside story. With a 3.13 ERA, triple-digit heat, and a manager who trusts him in the ninth, the Red Raider closer is no longer a project. He's a piece of the Pittsburgh puzzle — and the rest of the league is starting to notice.