Jake Burger
Jake Burger of the White Sox was a tremendous story during the 2021 season.
Jake Burger is another young player that is easy to root for. He made his MLB debut on July 2nd after overcoming two ruptures to his Achilles tendon and a bruise on his left heel. All these injuries and COVID-19 shutting down the Minor League Baseball season in 2020 caused Burger to go three seasons without playing baseball.
When he finally did get on the field he showed everyone why the White Sox selected him with the 11th overall pick in 2017. Burger batted .263 with the White Sox with one home run, three RBIs, and a .807 OPS in 38 at-bats. Despite limited playing time, Burger also flashed the leather a bit at third base. He did not commit an error and made some smooth plays in the process.
The problem for Burger is that the road to playing time is backed up due to his spot on the depth chart. He will not be supplanting Yoan Moncada any time soon. This is the reason Burger got sent back down to the minor leagues, not because of his play on the field.
With Burger not factoring into any immediate plans, he would be a perfect trade candidate. Teams looking for an intriguing project with plenty of upsides will be giving Burger a look. Burger was already featured in the MLB All-Star Futures Game.
Like Sheets, he could serve as a DH for a National League club as well. His new diet and weight loss have made him lighter on his feet and more athletic. He also has developed a more compact swing that is quicker through the zone and should help in the power department. Burger certainly has the stature to be a 25 home run a season type of player.