CHICAGO – Jake Burger made it to Guaranteed Rate Field.

The game took place on April 19, pitting the White Sox alternate site squad -- including Burger -- against the Cubs' alternate site team. There were no fans in the stands, and the temperatures -- in the low 40s, with snow flurries -- made it seem more like Bears weather.

But it still became another goal fulfilled for the No. 15 White Sox prospect, per MLB Pipeline. Burger took batting practice at the ballpark after he was selected 11th overall by the White Sox in the 2017 Draft but had never played against an opponent in that big league locale.

“It was awesome. The surface is awesome. The stadium is so cool,” Burger told MLB.com. “We were fortunate to play, because it was kind of like drizzling a little bit. It feels good. It feels like home. It’s awesome getting out there and being in the big league stadium and just taking it all in for sure.

“Yeah, it’s weird to look back on this 13-month journey and just [going] from the CarShield League in St. Louis to being at the alt site playing in a game at Guaranteed Rate. You look back on that, and you smile a little bit and it’s just been an unreal journey.”

That bumpy baseball road traveled for Burger, 25, also involved two ruptured left Achilles and a bruised left heel leaving him with limited action since his fist big league camp in 2018. He spoke of getting emotional driving to his first Spring Training workout in Arizona this past February, but it’s back to the business of baseball as usual for Burger.

From talks with Chris Getz, the White Sox assistant general manager/player development, Burger expects to begin the Minor League season in early May with Double-A Birmingham, or possibly even Triple-A Charlotte after he breaks from the alternate training site in Schaumburg, Ill. He has played solely at third base during the alternate site games with the Cubs and Brewers, and Burger was stationed there behind Reynaldo López last Monday, but has taken it upon himself to work at other positions.

“No matter where I’m going, I’m going to compete. That’s how I take it,” Burger said. “I take ground balls at shortstop, second base, first base. I take reads in the outfield. I just want to feel like a kid again. No matter where I go, I’m just going to have fun doing it. Nothing official in terms of [coaches saying], 'You need to try out here,' or anything. I move around to keep my options open as well.

“I’ve felt great. I feel like I’ve gained a lot defensively with tennis. It’s only getting better, because I’m getting more reads off the bat and being able to get work in with [Charlotte manager] Wes Helms. Defensively, I feel great, And offensively, I feel really good.”

That tennis referred to by Burger involved competition against his mother, Shannon, and his sister, Ellie, and it did more than help him lose 40 pounds in the past year. Playing tennis improved his quick reactions and has made Burger a better third baseman.

“It’s night and day from where I was before the injury to now, in my opinion,” Burger said. “I feel like I came back better because of it.”

Over seven Cactus League games, Burger finished 4-for-13 with one double and seven strikeouts. He admitted to pressing a little bit in his return to competitive action after playing with the alternate site squad in Schaumburg during the end of the ’20 season, and with the St. Louis native playing in front of manager Tony La Russa for the first time.

Now, Burger has tweaked his approach to work better for him. It’s about controlling the heart rate, knowing the situations and controlling the mind a little bit, per Burger, who implemented some of his meditation on the field in an attempt to center himself.

He’s eager to play in front of fans and the vibe they bring upon returning to the Minors. Burger will have Major League thoughts in the back of his mind, but will be simply having fun at the forefront.

“Just stay centered and keep doing me, and if the phone rings, the phone rings. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t,” Burger said. “I’m going to do everything I can to put myself in the best position.

"And you know what? I’m going to have fun no matter what I’m doing. It’s that simple. I’m just excited to be back playing baseball.”