Jung making good first impression with Erie

A bigger stage didn't seem to bother Jace Jung.

The No. 2 Tigers prospect put up his first Double-A home run in just his fourth game for Erie, which fell to Akron 5-3 at UPMC Park on Friday.

The whack came on an 0-1 count with a runner on, when righty Tommy Mace (Guardians) delivered a two-seamer to Jung that caught the center of the plate. The second baseman clubbed the pitch to the opposite field, sending it over the left-center-field fence. MLB's No. 57 prospect also led off the sixth inning with a single.

Friday marked Jung's second multihit performance at Double-A, after having picked up a couple of singles on Wednesday.

Through 81 games with High-A West Michigan this year, Jung collected 14 home runs, which has him still tied for second in the Midwest League. He also ranked fifth in slugging percentage (.465) and sixth in OPS (.842).

Jung had spent the entirety of his professional career with the Whitecaps since making his debut in August 2022. Early returns indicate that the 12th overall pick in the 2022 Draft appears to be right at home in Double-A, though. Jung has compiled a .313/.389/.500 slash through his first four contests with Erie.