ARLINGTON, Texas – On Friday, Justin Foscue played his 20th game of the season for the Texas Rangers, the longest consistent run of games he’s had as a big-leaguer. His most recent stint with the Rangers, who drafted him 14th overall in 2020 after a strong three-year stay at Mississippi State, has seen him hit his first big-league home run and deliver the first three-hit game of his career.
“Yeah, it’s been good to get some runway, a lot of at-bats in consecutive days and having success,” Foscue, 27, said. “It’s felt good to prove to myself, prove to the team that I’m able to do that. Just trying to keep building off that and continue to get better.”
On May 9, he belted his first career homer, a solo shot off Edward Cabrera of the Cubs at the Rangers’ home field, Globe Life Park. Foscue procured the ball, and it’s now resting safely with his wife, McKenzie.
“Yeah, I was traveling with it (on the next road trip). I meant to leave it in my truck here when we went on the road, but brought it to Colorado and Anaheim,” he said. “My wife has it in L.A. now. (I) probably should still have it though, but yeah, it’s there in L.A.”
And on the road trip following his landmark blast against the Cubs, the Rangers traveled to Colorado and Anaheim. It was against the Rockies on May 18 that Foscue got his first three-hit game (two doubles and a solo homer) and set a new career high with three RBIs, another nice bit of positive reinforcement for the ex-Bulldog.
“Finally getting my first home run felt good, then building off that and having a good series in Colorado and Anaheim. Yeah, it’s definitely a lift off my shoulders,” Foscue said. “Can relax more coming in every day. Just trying to build off that. I knew I could always be a big-league player, would be a big-league player and a good big-league player, but you got to prove it to yourself, right? Having the series at Colorado made me realize I can do this. Having success like that has helped relax me and made me trust the process a little bit better. I know what I’m doing. I know what I need to do to come in every day and get prepared for the game.”
A nice fringe benefit of the trip to play the Angels from May 22-24 was that former State teammate JT Ginn and the A’s were playing nearby in San Diego, and the two former Bulldogs were able to get together.
“Yeah, he was in my draft class. It (his near no-hitter earlier this year) doesn’t surprise me,” Foscue said of Ginn. “I loved competing with him in college and facing him in scrimmages. He has electric stuff. He’s a very good pitcher. Happy for him, saw him on our off day in Anaheim. Good to see him, happy for him, and wish him the success that he should have. Not (yet faced him) in the big leagues. I faced him in AA a couple years back. I’ll be looking forward to that (facing him in the big leagues) when that comes.”
Still a die-hard fan of all the Bulldog teams, Foscue has been enjoying the softball team’s run to the Women’s College World Series as the baseball team continues progressing through the NCAA Regionals.
“I saw the softball team beat Oklahoma, and that was obviously a huge deal. Oklahoma’s been a powerhouse in softball,” he said. “Good for them for making it. With State baseball, it’s a prestigious program. They belong in the postseason every year. They should win the regional. It’s just about getting there and going out and playing their best baseball. They have the team to do it, so it’s awesome to see the alma mater having success and being in the postseason where they belong.”
Stephen Hunt is a freelance writer based in Frisco, Texas.
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