What Rangers' Jake Burger Must Rediscover In 2026

What made nan Texas Rangers nan feared squad they were successful 2023, erstwhile they won nan World Series, was nan number of balls they deed complete nan fence. After tying pinch nan Minnesota Twins for third-place successful nan MLB successful squad location runs successful 2023 pinch 233, nan Rangers haven't cracked nan Top 10 since.

If you for illustration our content, choose Sports Illustrated arsenic a preferred root connected Google.

Last season, nan Texas Rangers deed 175 location runs arsenic a team, ranking 18th successful nan majors. Now, without Adolis Garcia, personification who was good known for his powerfulness successful Texas, nan Rangers request much from a formidable powerfulness threat successful nan mediate of nan lineup successful nan shape of Jake Burger.

What Burger Needs to Rediscover successful his Game

Burger, a erstwhile first-round prime by nan Chicago White Sox backmost successful 2017, was brought into nan franchise knowing they could count connected him for excessive location tally power, arsenic he displayed successful 2023 arsenic a personnel of nan White Sox and nan Miami Marlins.

But erstwhile looking astatine his 2025 run pinch nan Rangers and nan location runs he hit, location is truthful overmuch much harm that Burger tin do that he near connected nan table. Hitting 19 homers successful 103 games, Burger must return to his 30+ location tally benignant of powerfulness for Texas to conflict its measurement backmost into nan playoffs.

In 2023, Burger deed a career-high 34 location runs betwixt Chicago and Miami, and successful his 2nd play pinch nan Marlins, 1 twelvemonth earlier joining nan Rangers, he deed 29. Power is nan sanction of Burger's game, and seeing him pinch little than 20 not only impacts his worth but besides decreases fearfulness successful nan lineup.

Playing alongside Wyatt Langford and Corey Seager, Burger is 1 of Texas' top power-hitting options. While he whitethorn not person nan champion velocity and tends to put nan shot successful play, he is chiefly known for his location tally potential. He cannot spend different play pinch less than 20 location runs.

Burger doesn't go a free supplier until 2029, which yet intends that if he wants to stay successful Texas and compete for a title pinch nan Rangers, returning to his powerfulness changeable champion helps his case, particularly successful occupation information and imaginable compensation adjacent season.

Like other arbitration-eligible players, Burger and nan Rangers reached an statement connected a one-year woody worthy $3.2 cardinal for nan 2026 campaign, avoiding arbitration.

Knowing nan harm he's done successful nan past, a afloat and patient play is what's needed for nan Texas first baseman to reestablish credibility. If he does so, nan Rangers person a roster outlook that could return to nan postseason.

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