If you’re not in the mood for a burger after reading this, you might be vegan, although that has as much to do with food as a colonoscopy. Now you know what I’ve been craving since I made Jake Burger the subject of this week’s column (the burger, not the colonoscopy).
Burger began the 2023 season with the White Sox, the team that made him a first-round draft pick in 2017.
Although he broke out with his power numbers, hitting 25 homers and driving in 52 runs in his first 88 games, his .214 average and 102 strikeouts in 323 plate appearances looked more like an Adam Dunn impression .
During that span, he had the sixth-highest strikeout rate and fifth-worst on-base percentage among players with a minimum of 300 plate appearances.
Jake Burger #36 des Marlins de Miami Getty Images
In August, however, Burger was surprisingly traded (he’s controllable for another five years) to Miami, and that’s where his season got really interesting.
In 53 games with the Marlins, he increased his average from .214 to .250 after hitting .303 with nine home runs, 28 RBIs, 27 runs scored and an .850 OPS.
Yes, there has been a noticeable decrease in its energy production. He went from 7.7 percent of his strikeouts to just 4.2 percent. Sure, the new stadium could have been a factor — Guaranteed Rate Field is a haven for righties, LoanDepot Park not so much — but there’s more to it than just the venue.
Burger reduced his strikeout rate from 31.6 percent with the White Sox to 21.7 percent with the Marlins (which actually started during his final month in Chicago when he reduced his strikeout rate at stick more than 5 percent).
His contact rate increased by almost 4 percent and his zone contact rate increased by almost 5 percent. His line drive rate improved nearly 6 percent and his flyball rate dropped nearly 8 percent.
Does this mean Burger is now a contact hitter and his power is gone? Not at all, his power is legitimate.
According to Statcast, Burger ranked in the top 1 percent in the league (seventh overall) in maximum exit velocity (118.2 mph).
His average exit velocity of 91.9 mph ranked 25th and his hard hit rate (49.6%) was 24th. His barrels per plate appearance percentage (10.7) ranked seventh and his flyball/linear exit velocity (97.8 mph) was sixth.
Don’t doubt its power!
You should, however, doubt his .303 average after the trade. His .354 BABIP indicates luck was on his side, so it’s more likely he’ll get closer to the .250 mark he finished the season with (he’s a career .251 hitter).
There’s more to love about Burger.
He has a good chance of being Miami’s cleanup hitter (or, at the very least, hitting in the middle of the order), which should provide plenty of RBI opportunities.
He hit .282 with four homers and 10 RBIs when he reached third last year, .320 when he reached fourth and .275 with 11 homers, 27 RBIs and a .942 OPS when he reached the fifth.
Perhaps the best thing about Burger is his average position of 161.88, according to Fantasy Alarm. He’s drafted about 90 spots below Alex Bregman (77.25) – who hit .262 with 25 home runs, 98 RBIs, 103 runs and an .804 OPS – and more than 70 spots below Nolan Arenado ( 89.33) – who hit .266 with 26 homers, 93 RBIs, 71 runs and a .774 OPS.
In 141 games last year, Burger hit .250 with 34 home runs, 80 RBIs, 71 runs scored and an .806 OPS. If you’re missing top third basemen, like Jose Ramirez, Austin Riley, Rafael Devers, Gunnar Henderson or Royce Lewis, there’s no reason to settle for players like Bregman or Arenado when you can have similar production of a player of seven or eight rounds. later.
Tasty burger! Sorry, I meant: Target Burger!
Jake Burger hit 34 home runs in 141 games last year. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Guide to Madness
Special Preview Project
Part 3 of 5
Roto Rage Jarad Wilk ranks corner infielders. Next week: starting pitchers.
First base
1. Freddie Freeman, DAL
2. Matt Olson, Atlanta
3. Bryce Harper, Phi
4. Pete Alonso, New York Times
5. Vladimir Guerrero, Tor
6. Paul Goldschmidt, StL
7. Christian Walker, Ari
8. Cody Bellinger, ChC
9. Triston Houses, Bos
10. Josh Naylor, key
11. Spencer Steer, Californie
12. Nathaniel Lowe, Texas
13. Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Cin
14. Spencer Torkelson, Detective
15. Yandy Diaz, RB
16. Alex Bohm, Phi
17. Nolan Jones, Colonel
18. Vinnie Pasquantino, KC
19. Ryan Mountcastle, Bal
20. Salvador Pérez, KC
21. Anthony Santander, Bal
22. Josh Bell, Mia
23. Rhys Hoskins, Mil
24. José Abreu, Hou
25. Justin Turner, Tor
26. Brandon Drury, LAA
27. Ty France, Mer
28. Luis Arraez, Mia
29. Anthony Rizzo, New York
30. Jeimer Candelario, Cin
31. Alex Kirilloff, Min
32. Joey Meneses, was
33. Andrew Vaughn, SCF
34. Ryan Noda, China
35. Isaac Paredes, TB
36. Mark Canha, detective
37. Luke Raley, Mer
38. Kyle Manzardo, Key
39. Elehuris Montero, Colonel
40. Carlos Santana, Min.
41. C.J. Cron, FA
42. Patrick Sagesse, ChC
43. Wilmer Flores, SF
44. Jake Cronenworth, SD
45. LaMonte Wade, SF
46. Mark Vientos, New York
47. Kike Hernández, LAD
48. J.D. Davis, S.F.
49. Nolan Schanuel, LAA
50. Seth Brown, Chêne
51. Garrett Cooper, FA
52. Brandon Belt, FA
53. Gio Urshela, detective
54. Joey Gallo, was
55. Ramon Urias, Bal
Third base
1. José Ramírez, Clé
2. Austin Riley, Atlanta
3. Rafel Devers, Bos
4. Gunnar Henderson, Bal
5. Royce Lewis, Min
6. Manny Machado, SD
7. Elly De La Cruz, China
8. Josh Jung, Texas
9. Alex Bregman, Hou
10. Nolan Arenado, StL
11. Jake Burger, Mia
12. Spencer Steer, Californie
13. Nolan Gorman, StL
14. Noelvi Marte, Cin
15. Ha-Seong Kim, SD
16. Max Muncy, DAL
17. Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pit
18. Elehuris Montero, Colonel
19. Jordan Westburg, Bal
20. Junior Caminero, TB
21. Maikel Garcia, K.C.
22. Alex Bohm, Phi
23. Jorge Polanco, Mer
24. Matt Chapman, SF
25. Ryan McMahon, Colonel
26. Jeimer Candelario, Cin
27. Eugene Suarez, Ari
28. Wilmer Flores, SF
29. Luis Rengifo, LAA
30. Chris Taylor, DAL
31. Isaac Paredes, TB
32. Jared Triolo, Fosse
33. Patrick Sagesse, ChC
34. Gerald Perdom, Ari
35. DJ LeMahieu, New York
36. Jon Berti, Mia
37. Josh Rojas, Mer
38. Bretty Baty, New York
39. Willi Castro, Min
40. Mark Vientos, New York
41. Curtis Mead, tuberculose
42. Yoan Moncada, SCF
43. J.D. Davis, S.F.
44. Kike Hernández, LAD
45. Zach McKinstry, Detective
46. Jordan Diaz, Oak
47. Gio Urshela, Detective
48. Luis Urias, Mer
49. Ramón Urias, Bal
50. Andruw Monastery, Mil
51. Nicky Lopez, SCF
52. Matt Vierling, Detective
53. Jean Segura, Clé
54. Michael Busch, ChC
55. Kyle Farmer, Min
Team Name of the Week
Vaughn in 60 seconds
2024-03-10 11:55:31
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