Jake Burger Bio
Jacob Michael Burger, known professionally as Jake Burger, 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 the Miami Marlins. Drafted in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft, Burger has built a career marked by both offensive production and resilience through injuries. His journey from a top prospect to a reliable big-league bat has carried him across three organizations in just a few seasons.
Early Life and Background
Jake Burger was born on April 10, 1996, and grew up in the St. Louis area. He attended Christian Brothers College High School in Town and Country, Missouri, where he developed into a highly regarded hitter. Although he was not drafted out of high school, Burger quickly established himself as one of the premier amateur talents in the country during his college years.
Burger came from a close-knit family with deep baseball roots. His parents, Mike and Shannon, raised him alongside his sister, and the family frequently attended St. Louis Cardinals games with his father and grandfather. That early exposure to Major League Baseball helped shape his passion for the sport. Burger is also a practicing Catholic, and his faith has remained an important part of his personal life.
Path to Professional Baseball
Burger took his game to Missouri State University, where he played college baseball for the Missouri State Bears. As a freshman, he appeared in 57 games and hit .342/.390/.518 with four home runs and 42 runs batted in (RBIs), earning Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year honors. His sophomore campaign was even stronger, as he slashed .349/.420/.689 with 21 home runs and 72 RBIs across 56 games, which led to an invitation to play for the United States collegiate national team that summer.
In his junior year, Burger batted .328 with 22 home runs and 65 RBIs, and was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. His combination of power, on-base skills, and defensive versatility at the corner positions made him one of the top prospects for the 2017 MLB draft. The Chicago White Sox selected him with the 11th overall pick in the first round, officially launching his professional career.
Jake Burger Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
After signing with the Chicago White Sox, Burger was assigned to the Arizona League White Sox before being promoted to the Kannapolis Intimidators. He finished the 2017 season hitting .263 with five home runs and 29 RBIs in 51 games between the two clubs, signaling a smooth transition into professional baseball. He was invited to major-league spring training the following year and was widely viewed as a fast-rising prospect within the organization.
Burger’s momentum was halted on February 26, 2018, when he ruptured his left Achilles tendon and was ruled out for the entire season. After recovering, he returned in 2019 but missed additional time because of a bruised heel. The injuries slowed his timeline, yet the White Sox remained committed to his long-term development, and Burger continued to refine his offensive approach in the minor leagues.
Chicago White Sox Era (2020–2023)
When the 2020 minor-league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Burger played for the CarShield Collegiate League in O’Fallon, Missouri. It marked his first competitive action since 2017. Once the summer ended, he was invited to the White Sox alternate training site, and on November 20, 2020, he was added to the 40-man roster. He began 2021 at Triple-A Charlotte and, after slashing .322, was promoted to the majors on July 2, 2021. That same day, Burger made his MLB debut as the starting third baseman against the Detroit Tigers and collected his first career hit, a double off reliever Erasmo Ramírez. He later hit his first career home run on July 17, 2021, a two-run shot off Houston Astros pitcher Austin Pruitt.
In 2022, Burger opened the season on the White Sox roster and played third base while Yoán Moncada was injured. He appeared in 21 games and hit .239 with two home runs and seven RBIs before being optioned back to Triple-A in May. Burger began 2023 in Charlotte, then returned to the majors on April 5 when Eloy Jiménez went on the injured list. With playing time spread across third base, second base, and designated hitter, he delivered one of the signature moments of his White Sox tenure on June 4, 2023, when he hit a walk-off grand slam against the Detroit Tigers. On August 1, 2023, the White Sox traded him to the Miami Marlins in exchange for pitching prospect Jake Eder.
Miami Marlins Era (2023–2024)
Burger made an immediate impact with the Marlins down the stretch of 2023, batting .303/.355/.505 with nine home runs and 28 RBI across 53 games. His power surge gave the Marlins another right-handed run producer in the middle of the lineup, and he showcased the kind of offensive consistency that had been projected when he was a top draft pick.
Throughout the remainder of 2023 and into 2024, the Marlins began playing him more frequently at first base while still utilizing him at third base and as a designated hitter. In 137 plate appearances during the 2024 season, Burger slashed .250/.301/.460 with 29 home runs and 76 RBI. He struggled against left-handed pitching, batting .221/.260/.419, but his overall power numbers reinforced his value as a middle-of-the-order bat.
Texas Rangers Era (2024–Present)
On December 11, 2024, the Marlins traded Burger to the Texas Rangers in exchange for prospects Echedry Vargas, Max Acosta, and Brayan Mendoza. The move gave Texas another right-handed power option and a player capable of playing both corner-infield positions. Before the 2025 season began, Burger changed his uniform number to 21 in honor of his daughter, who has Down syndrome.
In 103 appearances with the Rangers, Burger batted .236/.269/.419 with 16 home runs and 53 RBI. His tenure with Texas was interrupted on September 29, 2025, when the team announced that he would require surgery to repair a tendon sheath in his left wrist. The injury cut into his playing time late in the year, but he remained a key contributor when healthy.
Notable Events and Milestones
Burger’s career has been defined by a series of memorable firsts and signature moments. His first MLB hit, a double off Erasmo Ramírez on July 2, 2021, and his first home run, hit off Austin Pruitt later that month, marked the arrival of a long-anticipated prospect. His walk-off grand slam against the Detroit Tigers on June 4, 2023, stands as one of the most dramatic moments of his time with the White Sox. Changing his jersey number to 21 in 2025 to honor his daughter added a deeply personal milestone to his Rangers tenure.
Jake Burger Career Wins
Jake Burger’s professional resume features steady offensive production across the minor leagues and Major League Baseball. While wins in baseball typically refer to pitching decisions rather than individual batting achievements, Burger’s value has consistently been measured by extra-base hits, home runs, and run production at each stop. His ability to drive in runs and post strong slugging numbers has been a hallmark of his career.
Minor League and Collegiate Highlights
Before reaching the majors, Burger built a strong track record in the minor leagues. He hit .263 with five home runs and 29 RBI in 51 games during his first professional season in 2017. He was also named to the 2021 All-Star Futures Game, a traditional showcase for top prospects, after a strong start at Triple-A Charlotte.
Other Wins & Performances
Burger earned multiple conference honors at Missouri State, including Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. He also represented the United States on the collegiate national team following his sophomore season. Across MLB, he has recorded more than 50 home runs and 150 RBI combined with the White Sox, Marlins, and Rangers, while also delivering timely hits such as his walk-off grand slam in 2023.
Jake Burger Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Jake Burger was raised by his parents, Mike and Shannon, alongside his sister. The family had a strong connection to baseball, frequently attending St. Louis Cardinals games with his father and grandfather. Those early experiences in St. Louis-area ballparks helped spark his lifelong love for the sport and laid the foundation for his future career.
Personal Life
Burger is married to his wife, Ashlyn. The couple have a son and a daughter who was born with Down syndrome. Burger has spoken about how fatherhood and family have shaped his outlook, and his decision to change his uniform number to 21 before the 2025 season reflected the deep bond he shares with his daughter. He is a practicing Catholic and continues to prioritize faith and family alongside his baseball career.
2025 Season Performance
Jake Burger’s 2025 season with the Texas Rangers began with renewed energy after his December 2024 trade from Miami. The Rangers added him to a roster in need of right-handed power, and he delivered a number of timely hits during the early months of the year. His decision to switch to jersey number 21 also gave the season a personal narrative that resonated with fans.
Over the course of 103 appearances, Burger batted .236/.269/.419 with 16 home runs and 53 RBI, providing middle-of-the-order production and positional flexibility at first and third base. His power numbers were a key part of Texas’s offense, although he continued to work on his consistency against left-handed pitching, an area that had been a focal point during his time in Miami.
Burger’s season was interrupted on September 29, 2025, when the Rangers announced that he would need surgery to repair a tendon sheath in his left wrist. The procedure ended his year on a cautious note, but the team remained optimistic about his long-term role. Looking ahead, Burger is expected to be a central part of the Rangers’ plans once he recovers, with the potential to anchor an infield position and serve as a power bat in the heart of the lineup.