Jake Burger

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Jake Burger

| image = Jake Burger, July 19, 2023.jpg

| caption = Burger with the White Sox in 2023

| team = Texas Rangers

| number = 21

| position = Third baseman, First baseman

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|4|10}}

| birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = July 2

| debutyear = 2021

| debutteam = Chicago White Sox

| statleague = MLB

| statyear = June 18, 2025

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .246

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 82

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 214

| teams =

Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2023}})
Miami Marlins ({{mlby|2023}}–{{mlby|2024}})
Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

}}

Jacob Michael Burger (born April 10, 1996) is an American professional baseball third baseman and first baseman for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins.

Burger played college baseball at Missouri State University. He was selected by the White Sox in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut in 2021. The White Sox traded Burger to the Marlins at the 2023 trade deadline, and the Marlins traded him to the Rangers during the 2024 Winter Meetings.

Amateur career

Burger attended Christian Brothers College High School in Town and Country, Missouri. He was not drafted out of high school, and played college baseball at Missouri State University for the Missouri State Bears. As a freshman, he played in 57 games, hitting .342/.390/.518 with four home runs and 42 runs batted in (RBIs) and was named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year.{{Cite web |last=Scranton |first=Lyndal |date=May 28, 2015 |title=Old buddies give baseball Bears' offense a needed boost |url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/college/msu/2015/05/28/old-buddies-give-baseball-bears-offense-needed-boost/28096273/ |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=Springfield News-Leader}} As a sophomore in 2016, Burger hit .349/.420/.689 with 21 home runs and 72 RBIs over 56 games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/college/stories/|title=College Baseball Rankings, Scouting Reports And Analysis|website=www.baseballamerica.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/college/msu/2017/02/16/jake-burger-has-big-time-future-but-hes-focusing-present-missouri-state-baseball/97850576/|title=Jake Burger has a big-time future, but he's focusing on the present for Missouri State baseball|first=Jim|last=Connell|website=Springfield News-Leader}}{{cite web |last=Frederickson |first=Ben |date=March 15, 2017 |title=Power surge by CBC grad Burger energizes Missouri State |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ben-frederickson/power-surge-by-cbc-grad-burger-energizes-missouri-state/article_76e1c63d-6657-5bf4-803a-a050884290b4.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}} After the season, he played for the United States collegiate national team.{{Cite web |last=Burger |first=Rance |date=July 6, 2017 |title=Bears slugger Jake Burger drives runs for Team USA, seeks shelter from typhoon |url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/college/msu/2016/07/06/bears-slugger-jake-burger-drives-runs-team-usa-seeks-shelter-typhoon/86757466/ |website=Springfield News-Leader}} As a junior in 2017, he batted .328 with 22 home runs and 65 RBIs{{cite web |last=Burger |first=Rance |date=June 20, 2017 |title=MSU slugger Jake Burger signs $3.7 million contract with Chicago White Sox |url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/baseball/2017/06/20/msu-slugger-jake-burger-signs-3-7-million-contract-chicago-white-sox/410259001/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507153700/https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/baseball/2017/06/20/msu-slugger-jake-burger-signs-3-7-million-contract-chicago-white-sox/410259001/?from=new-cookie |archive-date=May 7, 2018 |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=Springfield News-Leader}} and was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.{{cite web |date=May 23, 2017 |title=Jake Burger named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year |url=https://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2017/05/23/jake-burger-named-missouri-valley-conference-player-of-the-year/ |accessdate=February 7, 2025 |website=O-zarks Sports Zone}}

Professional career

=Chicago White Sox=

Burger was considered one of the top prospects for the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web |author=Eighinger |first=Steve |date=April 22, 2016 |title=Area college athletes: Missouri State's Burger getting raves |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/area-college-athletes-missouri-state-s-burger-getting-raves/article_de22e399-5540-527b-974e-bd052d26e71b.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=February 7, 2025 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}} The Chicago White Sox selected him in the first round, with the 11th overall selection. He signed, and was assigned to the Arizona League White Sox.{{cite web |last=Merkin |first=Scott |date=June 13, 2017 |title=White Sox select Jake Burger in Draft |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/white-sox-select-jake-burger-in-draft-c236018380 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616124744/http://m.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article/236018380/white-sox-select-jake-burger-in-draft/?topicId=27118146 |archive-date=June 16, 2017 |accessdate=February 7, 2025 |website=MLB.com}} He was promoted to the Kannapolis Intimidators after four games. He finished 2017 with a .263 batting average, five home runs, and 29 RBIs in 51 games between both clubs.{{cite web |title=Jake Burger Stats, Highlights, Bio |url=https://www.milb.com/player/jake-burger-669394#/career/R/hitting/2017/ALL |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=MiLB.com}}

Burger was invited to 2018 spring training by the White Sox. On February 26, he suffered a ruptured achilles tendon in his left leg, and was ruled out for the entire 2018 season on February 27.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/white-sox-prospect-jake-burger-out-for-season/c-267362640|title=White Sox prospect Burger out for season|last=Justice|first=Richard|work=MLB.com|date=February 27, 2018|access-date=February 27, 2018}} In 2019, he missed time during the season due to a bruised heel.{{cite web |last=Wheeler |first=Wyatt D. |date=July 1, 2019 |title=Former Missouri State star Jake Burger's White Sox season in jeopardy |url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/college/msu/2019/07/01/jake-burger-white-sox-baseball-season-jeopardy-injury/1617486001/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128060745/https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/college/msu/2019/07/01/jake-burger-white-sox-baseball-season-jeopardy-injury/1617486001/ |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |accessdate=February 7, 2025 |website=Springfield News-Leader}}

In 2020, Burger participated in the CarShield Collegiate league, a collegiate summer league in O'Fallon, Missouri, because there was no minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was his first time playing competitive baseball since 2017.{{cite web |last=Merkin |first=Scott |date=July 14, 2020 |title=Burger to play in collegiate league |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jake-burger-to-play-in-collegiate-league-in-missouri |access-date=March 3, 2021 |website=MLB.com}} When the summer league ended, Burger was invited to the White Sox alternate training site.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/whitesox/news/from-schaumburg-and-the-carshield-collegiate-league-jake-burger |title=From Schaumburg (and the CarShield Collegiate League): Jake Burger |last=Ballantini |first=Brett |date=August 24, 2020 |magazine= Sports Illustrated|publisher= |access-date=March 3, 2021 |quote=}}

On November 20, 2020, Burger was added to the 40-man roster. He was assigned to Triple-A Charlotte Knights to begin the 2021 season.{{cite news |last1=Merkin |first1=Scott |date=November 20, 2024 |title=White Sox add resilient Burger to 40-man |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jake-burger-on-white-sox-40-man-roster |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=MLB.com}} Following a season-ending injury to Nick Madrigal, Burger began taking reps at second base in Charlotte.{{cite news |last1=Gregor |first1=Scott |title=Moving Burger to second base 'makes sense' for White Sox |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/20210618/pro-sports/moving-burger-to-second-base-makes-sense-for-white-sox/ |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=Daily Herald |date=June 18, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Merkin |first1=Scott |date=June 18, 2021 |title='I can play': Moncada pushing through illness |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yoan-moncada-discusses-health-jake-burger-starts-at-second-base |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=MLB.com}} In June 2021, Burger was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.{{Cite web |last=Callis |first=Jim |date=June 30, 2021 |title=Futures Game rosters are STACKED |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2021-futures-game-rosters |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}} On July 2, after hitting .322 in Charlotte, Burger was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite news |date=July 2, 2021 |title=White Sox send struggling slugger Yermin Mercedes to minors, bring up INF Jake Burger |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31751879/white-sox-send-struggling-slugger-yermin-mercedes-minors-bring-inf-jake-burger |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=ESPN.com}} He made his MLB debut that day as the starting third baseman against the Detroit Tigers. In the game, he also notched his first career hit, a double off of Tigers reliever Erasmo Ramírez.{{cite news |last1=Merkin |first1=Scott |date=July 2, 2021 |title='A great success story': Burger gets the call |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jake-burger-called-up-yermin-mercedes-optioned |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=MLB.com}} On July 17, Burger hit his first career home run, a two-run shot off of Houston Astros pitcher Austin Pruitt.{{cite news |last1=Merkin |first1=Scott |date=July 18, 2021 |title=Burger's rise: Aren't you glad you didn't quit? |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jake-burger-discusses-journey-to-majors |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=MLB.com}}{{cite news |last1=Palermo |first1=Gregg |date=July 18, 2021 |title='Floating around those bases'; St. Louis native Jake Burger hits first big league homer |url=https://fox2now.com/sports/floating-around-those-bases-st-louis-native-jake-burger-hits-first-big-league-homer/ |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=KTVI}}

In 2022, Burger was added to the White Sox Opening Day roster and played third base for Yoán Moncada who was injured.{{Cite web |last=Merkin |first=Scott |date=April 7, 2022 |title=Moncada (right oblique strain) starts '22 on IL |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yoan-moncada-starts-2022-season-on-injured-list |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last1=Van Schouwen |first1=Darryl |title=Jake Burger makes presence felt early for White Sox |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2022/4/8/23016623/jake-burger-white-sox-makes-presence-felt-early |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=April 8, 2022}} Burger played in 21 games with a .239 average hitting two home runs and seven RBIs before he was sent back to Triple-A on May 9 when Moncada was activated.{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Jesse |date=May 9, 2022 |title=White Sox activate 3B Moncada, reliever Kelly |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33887895/chicago-white-sox-activate-third-baseman-yoan-moncada-reliever-joe-kelly |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Burger began the 2023 season with Charlotte. The White Sox promoted him to the major leagues on April 5 when Eloy Jiménez went on the injured list.{{Cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Alex |date=April 5, 2023 |title=White Sox Place Eloy Jiménez on 10-Day IL, Recall Jake Burger |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/white-sox-place-eloy-jimenez-on-10-day-il-recall-jake-burger/3113005/ |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=NBC Chicago |language=en-US}} With Moncada seeing regular playing time at third base and Jiménez being used as the main designated hitter, Burger began getting reps at second base.{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2023 |title=White Sox's Jake Burger: Playing second base possible |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/white-soxs-jake-burger-playing-second-base-possible/ |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=CBS Sports |language=en-US |agency=RotoWire}} On June 4, Burger hit a walk-off grand slam against the Detroit Tigers.{{Cite web |last=Merkin |first=Scott |date=June 4, 2023 |title=Burger grand, Hendriks perfect in walk-off win to cap sweep |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jake-burger-hits-walk-off-grand-slam-against-tigers |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}}

=Miami Marlins=

On August 1, 2023, the White Sox traded Burger to the Miami Marlins in exchange for pitching prospect Jake Eder.{{Cite web |last=Nicola |first=Christina De |date=August 2, 2023 |title=Marlins prove buyers at Deadline, swing trio of deals |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/miami-marlins-jake-burger-trade |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}} In 53 games for Miami, he batted .303/.355/.505 with nine home runs and 28 RBI.

Over the remainder of 2023 and into 2024, the Marlins began to increasingly play him at first base, while still using him at third base and DH, but no longer using him at second base.{{Cite web |title=Jake Burger Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burgeja01.shtml |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} Burger made 137 plate appearances for the Marlins in 2024, slashing .250/.301/.460 with 29 home runs and 76 RBI; he struggled against lefties, batting .221/.260/.419.{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Stephen |date=December 11, 2024 |title=Rangers get slugging corner infielder Jake Burger from Marlins for prospects and sign a reliever |url=https://apnews.com/article/marlins-rangers-trade-burger-5665dfa3bc13298f87a9082f17c429d3 |access-date=December 17, 2024 |website=Associated Press |language=en}}[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=burgeja01&year=2024&t=b "Jake Burger,"] Baseball Reference.

=Texas Rangers=

On December 11, 2024, the Marlins traded Burger to the Texas Rangers in exchange for prospects Echedry Vargas, Max Acosta, and Brayan Mendoza.{{Cite web |last=Landry |first=Kennedi |date=December 11, 2024 |title=Rangers beef up batting order with trade for slugging Burger |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jake-burger-rangers-marlins-trade |access-date=February 7, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}} Before the 2025 season began, he changed his number to 21 in honor of his daughter who has Down Syndrome.

Personal life

Burger's parents are Mike and Shannon. As children, Burger and his sister frequently attended St. Louis Cardinals games with their father and grandfather.{{cite news |last1=McPherson |first1=Jordan |title=Jake Burger's return to St. Louis a family affair — and a reminder of his value to Marlins |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/miami-marlins/article287367885.html |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=Miami Herald |date=April 6, 2024}} Burger is married to Ashlyn.{{cite news |last1=Ritchie |first1=Matthew |date=August 17, 2024 |title=Burger's custom Players' Weekend bats highlight family, mental health |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jake-burger-highlights-family-mental-health-advocacy-on-players-weekend |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=MLB.com}} The couple have a son and daughter who was born with Down Syndrome.{{cite news |date=January 18, 2025 |title=Rangers' Jake Burger to wear No. 21 for daughter with Down syndrome |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43466095/rangers-jake-burger-wear-no-21-daughter-syndrome |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}} Burger is a Catholic.{{cite news |last1=Grant |first1=Evan |title= Texas Rangers 1B Jake Burger credits team’s recent hot streak to new Pope Leo XIV |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2025/05/14/texas-rangers-jake-burger-pope-leo-xiv-colorado-rockies/ |access-date=May 15, 2025 |work=Dallas Morning News |date=May 14, 2025}}