Arlington, Texas — The call that Justin Foscue had been waiting for his entire life came earlier than expected, but the former Mississippi State standout can’t quibble.
On April 2, 2024, the Texas Rangers recalled Foscue, 24, their No. 5 prospect for 2024 according to MLB Pipeline, from Triple-A Round Rock after third baseman Josh Jung went on the 10-day injured list with a fractured right wrist.
The 14th pick in the 2020 Amateur Draft following three seasons in Starkville, Foscue figured his call to the show would come sometime in 2024, but not this quickly.
“I didn’t expect it to be this early. Obviously, with Josh (Jung) going down, it’s unfortunate,” Foscue said. “I didn’t expect it to be the first week since I didn’t break (camp) with the team. I knew it was going to be this year but I’m glad just to make that debut, get out there. It feels really good to accomplish something I’ve dreamed of my entire life.”
Foscue joined the Rangers in Tampa for the final two games of a three-game set with the Rays but remained on the bench for the April 2 and 3 contests. His long-awaited debut came on Friday at home against Houston when he entered the game in the top of the eighth as a defensive replacement for starting second baseman Marcus Semien, who had blasted a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to give Texas a 10-0 lead.
At the plate, he popped out to fellow second baseman Mauricio Dubon in the bottom of the eighth but caught the game’s final out when Astros catcher Yainier Diaz popped out to him to end the blowout at 10-2.
“It was really fun. I didn’t expect it to be (Friday), but when we were up 8-0, (the coaches) were telling me to be ready just in case they pull Marcus,” Foscue said in the clubhouse before the game on Saturday, April 6, 2024. “Then, (Semien) hit the homer and I was sitting there thinking now’s probably a good time.”
And yes, he still has the ball from that final out against the Rangers’ fiercest rival.
“I don’t know if I can authenticate that,” Foscue said. “I don’t know how that works. I don’t know what I’m going to do (with it yet). I’m definitely going to keep it. My agent was telling me they give me something for my debut, maybe the lineup card. I’m sure I’ll get some memorabilia. I’ll definitely keep that.”
In Tampa and Arlington, he was joined by various family members like his parents, wife, and sister, who have all played integral roles during his baseball journey and wanted to be there to witness him realize his lifelong dream of being in the big leagues.
“That (sharing that experience with your family) is what it’s all about. They traveled to Tampa. It didn’t happen there, but for them to witness my MLB debut and me getting out there and getting my first at-bat, it means a lot that they were here and to share that moment with them,” Foscue said. “Overall, a really special day.”
Rangers’ manager Bruce Bochy, who is now in his second season with Texas after helping lead the team to its first World Series win in franchise history last fall, has gotten to know Foscue well over the past year and one quality about his young second sacker which sticks out to the four-time Series winning skipper is his mental makeup.
“He’s got a calmness about him, doesn’t seem like he gets too amped up. Pretty calm at the plate, which helps with the discipline,” Bochy said. “Same with defensively. When he went in the game, I’m sure he was nervous, but you couldn’t see it. That’s a pretty good quality to have for a young player.”
Two nights later, Bochy summoned Foscue from the bench yet again, this time as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth for Evan Carter with the Rangers trailing the Astros 3-0. With Adolis Garcia on second and vaunted Houston closer Josh Hader on the mound, Foscue showed that calmness which Bochy spoke of at the dish, working the count full. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, he hit a 97 MPH sinker from Hader on the inside part of the plate straight up the middle and into center field to score Garcia, giving him his first career hit and RBI in what would be Texas’ lone run of the game.
However, his second career hit will have to wait as the Rangers placed Foscue on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a left oblique strain.
One thing not lost on Foscue about making his debut is that he is now part of the fraternity of State products to reach the show, a list he is honored to now be included on.
“Mississippi State is such a historic program. They have a history of building players and big-league players,” he said. “I’m very happy I made that decision in high school. Going there definitely helped me set up for a really good career. I couldn’t have been more thankful to everybody at Mississippi State for working with me, improving me as a player, making me the player I am today.”
Being a rookie means he now must endure rookie rites of passage to pay his dues. Foscue doesn’t yet know what those will entail, but he’s ready for anything.
“I was supposed to have a rookie duty but didn’t fly on the plane back from Tampa, just carrying things, get(ting) snacks, etc. I had to fly back to Austin to get my truck so I wasn’t able to make it,” he said. “I’m sure they’ll have plenty of duties moving forward for me. That’s part of it. That’s part of being a rookie. You’ve got to have fun with it. You can only be a rookie one year of your life.”
Stephen Hunt is a freelance writer based in Frisco, Texas.
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