When the Charlotte Knights took the field on Thursday night Jake Burger was not among them. He was packing his bags for Chicago. According to Scott Merkin, Jake Burger is expected to join the White Sox in their road trip in Detroit.
Burger has been tearing it up in Triple-A Charlotte this season. He is hitting .290 with 10 home runs, 36 RBIs a .596 slugging percentage, and a .964 OPS. Burger has spent the majority of the season at third base but recently has been getting some time at second base. He will likely be replacing Yoan Moncada who left Thursday’s game with a bruised right hand. He is expected to miss all three games in Detroit.
“Honestly, my approach has been really sound,” Burger said. “(Charlotte Chris Johnson and I have been working every single day on my approach, and it’s kind of come together, finally, over these last three weeks.
“Things have been clicking recently, and hopefully they stay clicking.”
It sounds as if Jake Burger will be joining the White Sox in Detroit. And not to lose objectivity here, but this is really a story worthy of a movie with what he has gone through and what he has achieved.
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) July 2, 2021
With the roster being hampered with injuries the lineup is in desperate need of reinforcements while they wait for Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez to return. The White Sox were reportedly interested in acquiring Eduardo Escobar, but trade negotiations have stalled. The Diamondbacks asking price has been too high for the White Sox. Instead of swinging a deal, Rick Hahn has been trying to fill the void from within. He called up Gavin Sheets last week and has seen instant production. Hahn hopes to get the same spark from Burger.
Burger’s road to the show is truly inspiring. He was selected 11th overall in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft out of Missouri State. Burger was a power hitter who nearly won the Missouri Valley Conference triple crown in 2016. But he also could flash the leather at third base. He was named MVC Defensive Player of the Year in 2015.
When he made his professional debut in Class A Kannapolis he made a good first impression. He hit .263 with 10 doubles, five homers, 29 RBIs, 14 walks, and 24 runs scored in 51 games. That included a 5-for-5 performance on 8/24/17 where he hit for the cycle. However, the good vibes did not last long. He missed the entire 2018 season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered during a spring training game in February. During a lengthy rehab process, he re-ruptured it in May.
Jake Burger goes deep for the 10th time this season. #Knights #WhiteSox 🍔 pic.twitter.com/LxFNwL1QJW
— White Sox Daily (@dailywhitesox) June 30, 2021
In 2019 he missed the entire season for the second straight year due to a bruised left heel. When he was finally ready to take the field again, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the minor league season in 2020. He spent the entire season at the Schaumberg training facility. Prior to going to Schaumberg, he played in the CarShield Collegiate League in Missouri.
After two seasons of no baseball and one split between an Independent League and a training facility Burger dedicated the offseason to his body. He improved his diet and lost a significant amount of weight making him lighter on his feet. The body overall has allowed him to be more versatile in the field.
“I’m obviously focused on third base, but with the weight I’ve lost I feel I can play a couple of other infield positions,” Burger told Chuck Garfein on the White Sox Talk Podcast. “No matter where they want me to play, I’m willing to work there.”
He also retooled his swing in an effort to make it quicker through the zone. After missing a significant amount of time many thought the White Sox would ease him back in. Instead, they threw him into Triple-A and he has rewarded their faith. It was announced on Wednesday that he would be representing the White Sox as a part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star festivities in the All-Star’s Futures Game.
After a long road and countless hours of rehab, Burger will be living his dream in the show. It’s been a long time coming and well-deserved honor.
