CHICAGO — Jake Burger doubled home a run in the sixth inning Monday night at Rate Field for the 500th hit of his major league career. Burger was thrown out trying to reach third on the play.
The Chicago White Sox drafted Burger 11th overall in 2017 out of Missouri State University. He made his major league debut in Chicago on July 2, 2021, going 2-for-4 against Detroit, and spent his first three seasons with the club before a trade to Miami on Aug. 1, 2023. He joined Texas in 2025. Burger is signed through this season at $3.2 million and is arbitration eligible in 2027.
Burger finished Monday with 2 hits and 2 RBI. He led off the fifth inning with his 22nd home run of the season, driving a pitch from White Sox left-hander Tyler Schweitzer to center field.
Jake Burger On Returning To Chicago
Burger spoke on Rangers Sports Network after the game, in the same park where he debuted five seasons ago.
“It’s huge. There’s a lot of fond memories here. The double where I got thrown out at third was my 500th hit,” Burger said. “So it’s just really cool to look back at my career and know that so many of the starting blocks were here in Chicago. And you hit enough home runs in a place, you kind of have a feel for if they’re going to go or not. And I was pretty confident that was gone.”
Texas Posts A Season-High 11 Runs In The Series Opener
The Rangers scored in five of their first six times at bat and outhit Chicago 14-5. Corey Seager went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and doubled twice. Wyatt Langford hit his 15th home run, a two-run shot in the ninth. Ezequiel Duran added 2 hits and 2 RBI.
Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson was ejected in the second inning by home-plate umpire Chris Guccione after a denied challenge of a called third strike. In the bottom of the first, Brandon Nimmo went over the right field wall to take a two-run home run away from Andrew Benintendi.
The 11 runs were a season high for Texas, which had scored 5 the night before. The White Sox fell to 68-63 and remain first in the American League Central. Kumar Rocker worked 5 2/3 innings for his first win since July 27.
The result moved the Rangers to 66-66 and into sole possession of first place in the American League West, a half-game ahead of the idle Houston Astros. It also evened the season series with Chicago at two wins apiece. Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (9-8, 3.77 ERA) starts Tuesday against White Sox left-hander Anthony Kay (9-6, 3.96) at 7:40 p.m. CT.
