White Sox: Jake Burger ruptures Achilles, out for 2018
Unfortunately for Jake Burger and the Chicago White Sox, the rookie suffered a ruptured Achilles on Monday, meaning he will miss the 2018 season.
A Spring Training that started with so much promise for Jake Burger and the Chicago White Sox ended on one unfortunate ground ball to third base.
According to the White Sox, Burger ruptured the Achilles tendon in his left leg during yesterday’s Spring Training game against the Oakland Athletics.
He is expected to have surgery on the injury this week in Chicago and will miss the entire 2018 season.
Jake Burger has been diagnosed with a ruptured left Achilles’ tendon. He will have the tendon surgically repaired in Chicago later this week, but is expected to miss the 2018 season.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) February 27, 2018
What a sore blow for both Burger and the White Sox organization, which has been building its farm system up into one of the league’s best.
Burger himself had already been making himself known in camp, tripling in the White Sox’s 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday and doubling early in the game against the As.
But in his second at-bat, Burger fell down ten feet before the first base bag while trying to leg out a chopper to third. It immediately looked like his season would be over.
Here's video of Jake Burger's injury. #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/AddQauZHmQ
— South Side Update (@SSupdatepodcast) February 26, 2018
More from Da Windy City
- Juan Soto appears headed to the Yankees which is not a big blow Chicago Cubs offseason
- 3 takeaways from Chicago Blackhawks shootout loss to Nashville
- Chicago Cubs in the middle of chaos that is Shohei Ohtani’s free agency
- The Chicago Cubs are on a roller coaster of emotions chasing Shohei Ohtani
- Chicago Bears quietly compiling list of head coaching candidates
Unfortunately, Burger also joins a few other top White Sox prospects that have suffered injuries thus far in spring.
Eloy Jimenez, the White Sox’s highest-rated prospect, has struggled with knee soreness, which has kept him out of much spring action thus far. However, his injury isn’t thought to be serious. Furthermore, he has been taking batting practice as recently as yesterday and should return soon.
Also, fellow outfielder Micker Adolfo suffered a sprained UCL in his elbow, keeping him off the field for now. But instead of potentially having to undergo Tommy John surgery, the hope is that the elbow could heal on its own.
As such, Adolfo could get away with just playing DH in the minors and might not do further damage. In fact, he’s already hitting again.
An Achilles injury is awful, but if there's someone in the White Sox system who can come out of an injury like that it's Jake Burger. Special kid.
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) February 27, 2018
Fortunately for Jimenez and Adolfo, neither need to miss the season as yet. And, at least for now, neither will need to undergo as arduous a rehab process as Burger. And just in general, it’s tough to see a young player with so much promise suffer such a debilitating injury.
Next: Chicago Bears pre-Combine mock draft
But at just 23 years old, Jake Burger has plenty of time to come back better than ever. And when he does, the Chicago White Sox will be there waiting for him.