Jake Burger Returns to the Texas Rangers; Blaine Crim Sent to Triple-A
The Texas Rangers have called up veteran infielder Jake Burger from Triple-A Round Rock, while first baseman Blaine Crim has been sent to the minors.
This decision comes as the team prepares to host the Colorado Rockies in a three-game series that will begin on Monday.
Burger, who had a difficult start with his new team, batting .190 in 30 games, will look to improve his performance.
At the start of the 2025 season, Burger hit three home runs and drove in 12 runs for the Rangers. However, he accumulated 32 strikeouts in 100 at-bats, leading to his demotion after the 3-0 loss to the Athletics on May 1st.
In Round Rock, Burger improved his production in his last five minor league games. The 29-year-old, who is now playing for his third organization in three seasons, recorded multiple hits in four of his last five appearances, including home runs on May 10 and 11 in El Paso.
Burger’s season start reflects the Rangers’ offensive problems, a team with established hitters who have struggled.
Last week, one day after the Rangers fired offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker, they hired former MLB All-Star Bret Boone as hitting coach.
The results have been mixed. The Rangers completed a six-game road trip with a 3-3 record, but they scored 16 runs in the last two games of a series against the Detroit Tigers, both of which were won.
Burger hit 63 home runs and drove in 156 runs between 2023 and 2024. After hitting 25 home runs in 88 games for the White Sox at the start of the 2023 season, he was traded to Miami on August 1. He added nine more home runs for Miami in 53 games, and led the Marlins with 29 home runs in 137 games in 2024.
Burger was transferred to the Rangers in exchange for three players in December 2024.
Crim failed to connect hits in 13 plate appearances, receiving a walk and a hit by pitch in five games with the Rangers.
