The long treacherous road to the major league debut for Jake Burger concluded with a welcoming location as the 11th overall pick in the 2017 MLB draft for the White Sox finished the night 2-4 for a double, a single, and a run scored. There were many potholes along the way; two Achilles injuries cost Burger all of his 2018 season and most of his 2019 season while COVID-19 shut down the entire minor leagues for the 2020 campaign. After Friday night’s game, Burger himself admitted there was a temptation to take the off ramp, but he listened to the advice of his parents and kept driving.
Burger was called up to fill in for the injured Yoan Moncada after batting .322/.368/.596 with 10 HRs, 36 RBI, and a .964 OPS for the AAA Charlotte Knights this season. Burger’s first major league hit wasn’t exactly what Sox fans would expect out of the power bat that tore up AAA this season. In the 7th inning of the White Sox 8-2 win against the Detroit Tigers, Burger hit a ball high into the night sky that was lost in the lights by Daz Cameron resulting in the double that was Burger’s first hit.
While unorthodox, it seems like the perfect way for Burger to get his first hit as his journey to the majors has not been what anyone would have expected. His 2021 minor league season, his MLB debut, and his story have made Burger a fan favorite and a player who will be fun to watch this weekend.