The Texas Rangers first baseman feels well physically, but he and the management believe that more work is required before he can be activated.
Jake Burger, the injured Texas Rangers first baseman, will continue his rehab this week, manager Bruce Bochy announced on Monday.
Burger’s rehabilitation destination is unknown, as both Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock are on the road this week.
Burger was at Globe Life Field on Monday and participated in a live batting session in preparation for game action later this week.
Burger spoke to the media ahead of live batting practice and shared that the pain in his left quadriceps — the injury that landed him on the injured list last month — is now gone.
His focus now is on regaining game fitness before the Rangers bring him back. During the team’s last homestand, he mentioned the upcoming series against Philadelphia as a possible return date.
“I could see myself joining either Round Rock or Frisco on the road this week and then getting activated, but that decision isn’t really up to me,” Burger said.
In his two rehab appearances with Frisco, he served as the designated hitter and went 1-for-8. He’s expected to start playing defensively later this week. According to Burger, the biggest challenge at this point is baserunning, and he wants to be about 90 percent ready in that area before returning to the big-league lineup.
Bruce Bochy on Jake Burger
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was pleased with Jake Burger’s live batting practice on Monday but said the first baseman still needs more preparation before rejoining the team.
“He needs more at-bats down there, so he’ll continue playing,” Bochy said. “We’ll gradually build him up to playing five and then seven innings at first base regularly. He’ll let us know when he feels ready.”
Burger was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 16, retroactive to July 13, due to a quadriceps injury — his second IL stint in less than a month.
Earlier, he missed nearly two weeks after straining his left oblique in a game against the Pirates. That injury landed him on the IL on June 21, and he was activated on July 2 after a one-day rehab assignment.
In 75 games this season, Burger has hit .228 with a .259 on-base percentage and a .401 slugging percentage, recording 11 home runs and 35 RBIs. He had a rough start to the season, prompting the Rangers to send him to Triple-A Round Rock in early May for a week to work on his swing.
While Burger has been out, the Rangers have relied on a first base platoon of Rowdy Tellez, Josh Smith, and Ezequiel Duran.