CHICAGO -- Jake Burger could have given up on baseball during the past three years, and there would have been very few people faulting him for that choice.

The No. 11 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline, went through two left Achilles tendon ruptures, a bruised heel and the COVID-19 pandemic, costing him three years of baseball. But Burger fought through those darker days and now has his first career start, his first career hit and his first career home run on his Major League resume after Saturday night’s homer to left field off Astros reliever Austin Pruitt.

“Me and Danny Mendick actually had a conversation in the cage [Friday],” Burger said. “He’s like, ‘Aren’t you glad you didn’t quit?’ I’m like, ‘Isn’t that the truth?’

“Looking back at the whole three years, the multiple times I said I wanted to quit, there are no words that can describe what I’m feeling. It’s cool that my family and friends were behind me the entire time and the White Sox.”

Manager Tony La Russa is as impressed as everyone else in the organization with Burger’s amazing ascent from Triple-A Charlotte to the Majors and how he’s producing after that three-year absence. But judging by his pregame comments Sunday, it didn’t sound as if La Russa expected such success to happen so soon for Burger.

“In getting to know guys, reading about our players, when I saw Jake Burger, and I read about him, I was like, ‘Wow. That’s really some terrific obstacles and certainly can’t expect him to be very sharp,’” La Russa said. “Then he comes to camp and you see him come up here and he’s playing like a productive big leaguer, and then you are reminded what he went through for the last three years. It’s amazing.

“It says a lot about his talent. But I’ve said it before: In this game, you have to be mentally and physically tough. ... He has that toughness thing that’s a huge asset. I don’t know how he’s doing it with those setbacks. He’s hitting sixth today for our game against a really good team, so you know what we think of him.”

López ready to contribute

Reynaldo López is scheduled to pitch at some point during Monday’s doubleheader against the Twins after throwing two scoreless innings of relief Friday after being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte.

“It feels good, especially after being through the rebuilding process,” said López through interpreter Billy Russo. “That was one of the reasons why I wanted to get back here and enjoy this moment. It’s a very good moment for all of us, and it was something that the team was planning since the rebuilding started.

“My goal right now is just to help the team to win games. It doesn’t matter what role. Whatever spot they want to use me, I know I have to perform and do the best that I can do. I’m not looking to be a starter or reliever. Just looking to help this team in whatever role they need me.”

After making 81 starts for the White Sox from 2017-20, López admitted to being a little frustrated starting the 2021 season with Charlotte.

“What can I say? At the beginning, I felt a little frustrated because I wasn’t expecting that,” López said. “But then afterwards, I just accepted the role, accepted my reality, and I just embraced it and started working from the bottom up.

“Sometimes, you have to take things as they come and to have a purpose. When I went to the Minors, I [started] working harder than before to get better and come back here.”

López added focus on using more of his lower body has helped him improve and add velocity.

Three cheers for the fans

The White Sox had 68,820 fans in attendance over the first two nights of the Houston series, topping 34,000 on Friday and Saturday. The crowd’s enthusiasm and support has not gone unnoticed.

“Guys mention it in the clubhouse. They like the enthusiasm. I’ve seen it in St. Louis,” La Russa said. “When you have a big crowd and they are motivated by what the team is doing, you play better. That can be a huge asset. It was very special the last two nights.”

“We love it,” White Sox starter Lucas Giolito said. “The fans have just been absolutely fantastic. We feed off that kind of stuff. Our fans are some of the best in baseball, and we look forward to many, many more games with all the seats filled.”