Ex-White Sox top pick undaunted by injuries

CHICAGO -- Picture this White Sox scenario playing out two or three years down the line.

The team is firmly in the midst of its prime contention window, and Jake Burger -- the organization’s top pick in the 2017 Draft -- is making meaningful contributions at the Major League level. But those contributions from a young player possessing an elite hit tool aren’t coming solely in the field at third base, the position where Burger was drafted out of Missouri State and played for the White Sox Rookie-level Arizona League team and Class A Kannapolis in 2017.

Burger clearly is open to playing multiple defensive positions as his long comeback trail from a pair of ruptured left Achilles has brought him into workouts and games at the team’s alternate training facility in Schaumburg, Ill.

“I feel like I could play almost anywhere they put me,” said Burger during a Zoom call on Monday. “Maybe not center field or shortstop. But I feel great.”

Burger is the organization's No. 15-ranked prospect despite the fact that he has not played in a Minor League game since Sept. 4, 2017, with Kannapolis. He missed the 2019 season due to a bruised left heel, following up the Achilles issues.

• Toolshed: Burger trying new route to South Side

But he came with momentum to this past Spring Training, telling White Sox director of player development Chris Getz how he was done feeling sorry for himself and ready to crush it moving forward.

“Obviously, the situation didn’t unfold the way we first saw it,” said Burger, referring to the COVID-19-related Minor League postponement. “I took the momentum going home and played tennis every day, did a pool workout every day and biked every single day.

“After I did that for three months, I was feeling better than I ever have. Lost some weight. Felt good physically, mentally. I honestly feel better defensively now than I did prior to the Draft, almost just because of the quick-movement stuff I did with tennis and stuff.”

A stint in the CarShield Collegiate League in O’Fallon, Mo., approved by the White Sox during baseball’s shutdown, helped Burger feel out his healed leg in the batter’s box and in the field. While he didn’t put much stock in the results, especially considering the wide variance of pitchers he faced, Burger felt really good at the plate and got what he wanted out of a return to team action.

Early last week, Burger was added to the White Sox player pool. Calling the situation “incredible,” he feels great getting consistent reps and playing baseball every day. He’s also working with the coaches in Schaumburg and picking the brains of other players, such as Seby Zavala and Andrew Vaughn.

None of this would be possible without Burger’s determination and the organization’s support.

“If I didn’t get that support, it would have been tough to go through the last two years,” Burger said. “I feel like I can talk to Chris Getz about anything. He understands everything that I’m going through. He’s been one of my biggest supporters, so has [general manager] Rick Hahn. Even [manager] Ricky Renteria.

“It’s been awesome just having that support and feeling that love and [them] wanting me to get better [physically] along with wanting me to get better mentally. It’s been huge. Like I said, I feel like I can tell Chris Getz anything and he’d be on board and support me in any way.”

White Sox national crosschecker Kirk Champion was at a couple of Burger’s CarShield League games and expressed how Burger was a lot quicker than a lot of people realize. Champion felt as if Burger could play anywhere, which is now a thought firmly in Burger’s mind.

“Going into this offseason, that's going to be a priority,” Burger said. “How ever I can get on the field, I'm going to do that. Maybe train some outfield plays, train everywhere.

“In the CarShield League, I played a couple games at first base. I felt comfortable there. That's an easier transition than, obviously, the outfield. But I really do feel like I can take on any challenge thrown at me, especially after these two years.”