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Justin Foscue gets MLB call, becomes 69th Diamond Dawg in the Show

3rupauk8_400x400by: Robbie Faulk04/02/24RobbieFaulkOn3

Welcome to the Show, Justin Foscue.

Another former Mississippi State great is on his way to a Major League Baseball roster as Foscue got the call to join the Texas Rangers and could make his debut as early as Tuesday night.

Foscue’s call makes him the 69th player to make an MLB roster and he joins his former teammate Jordan Westburg. The two were the first MSU duo to be selected in the first round of an MLB Draft since Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro did it in 1985 and now both are playing on the big stage four years later.

The Huntsville, Ala., native Foscue was taken the highest of the two as the Rangers selected him 14th overall in 2020. He was the highest drafted second baseman in school history but Foscue started his career with the Bulldogs at third.

After playing in 58 games and starting in 48 as a freshman in 2018 with a .241 average, 12 doubles and three home runs, Foscue made a massive jump as a sophomore. First-year coach Chris Lemonis moved Foscue from third to second base relatively early in the season and it sparked something for both the player and the team.

Foscue would see his numbers jump at the plate across the board with a .331 average in 67 games, 91 hits, 22 doubles, 14 home runs and 60 RBI. He had just 32 strikeout in 275 at bats and he helped lead State to its second-straight College World Series.

Foscue was off to another good start in 2020 with a .321 average and four doubles with two home runs in 16 games but the season was cancelled due to Covid-19. Following the draft, the Minor League season also saw a cancellation which would set Foscue and his classmates back.

Before the end of his first season, Foscue had already risen to AA and last year he made it up to AAA before getting the chance to play with the Rangers in spring training. His final tally in the Minor Leagues for now is 288 games played, 304 hits, 81 doubles, 50 home, six triples, 218 RBI and he had a .275 batting average.

Foscue got the opportunity to join the Rangers after third baseman Josh Jung was hit by pitch on Monday and fractured his wrist. Foscue is listed as a second baseman, but the versatile defender has drawn praise from manager Bruce Bochy and others for his ability to play either first, second or third on the next level.

The Diamond Dawgs now have 12 players on MLB rosters this year with nine of them active.

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