Chicago White Sox
Burger was considered one of the top prospects for the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. [8] The Chicago White Sox selected him in the first round,with the 11th overall selection. He signed,and was assigned to the Arizona League White Sox. [9] He was promoted to the Kannapolis Intimidators after four games. He finished 2017 with a .263 batting average,five home runs,and 29 RBIs in 51 games between both clubs. [10]
Burger was invited to 2018 spring training by the White Sox. On February 26,he suffered a ruptured achilles tendon in his left leg,and was ruled out for the entire 2018 season on February 27. [11] In 2019,he missed time during the season due to a bruised heel. [12]
In 2020,Burger participated in the CarShield Collegiate league,a collegiate summer league in O'Fallon,Missouri,because there was no minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was his first time playing competitive baseball since 2017. [13] When the summer league ended,Burger was invited to the White Sox alternate training site. [14]
On November 20,2020,Burger was added to the 40-man roster. He was assigned to Triple-A Charlotte Knights to begin the 2021 season. [15] Following a season-ending injury to Nick Madrigal,Burger began taking reps at second base in Charlotte. [16] [17] In June 2021,Burger was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game. [18] On July 2,after hitting .322 in Charlotte,Burger was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. [19] He made his MLB debut that day as the starting third baseman against the Detroit Tigers. In the game,he also notched his first career hit,a double off of Tigers reliever Erasmo Ramírez. [20] On July 17,Burger hit his first career home run,a two-run shot off of Houston Astros pitcher Austin Pruitt. [21] [22]
In 2022,Burger was added to the White Sox Opening Day roster and played third base for Yoán Moncada who was injured. [23] [24] Burger played in 21 games with a .239 average hitting two home runs and seven RBIs before he was sent back to Triple-A on May 9 when Moncada was activated. [25]
Burger began the 2023 season with Charlotte. The White Sox promoted him to the major leagues on April 5 when Eloy Jiménez went on the injured list. [26] With Moncada seeing regular playing time at third base and Jiménez being used as the main designated hitter,Burger began getting reps at second base. [27] On June 4,Burger hit a walk-off grand slam against the Detroit Tigers. [28]
Miami Marlins
On August 1,2023,the White Sox traded Burger to the Miami Marlins in exchange for pitching prospect Jake Eder. [29] In 53 games for Miami,he batted .303/.355/.505 with nine home runs and 28 RBI.
Over the remainder of 2023 and into 2024,the Marlins began to increasingly play him at first base,while still using him at third base and DH,but no longer using him at second base. [30] Burger made 137 plate appearances for the Marlins in 2024,slashing .250/.301/.460 with 29 home runs and 76 RBI;he struggled against lefties,batting .221/.260/.419. [31] [32]
