Texas Rangers First Baseman Jake Burger Named 2026 Philanthropist of the Year by MLBPA
Arlington, Texas — The Players Trust, the charitable arm of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), today announced the selection of Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger as its 2026 Philanthropist of the Year, presented as part of this year's Players Choice Awards.
Burger, who was also the Rangers' nominee for the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award, is the first Texas player to earn Philanthropist of the Year honors since the award's inception in 2023.
As part of the recognition, the Players Trust will issue a $25,000 grant to The Burger Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operated by Jake and his wife, Ashlyn. The foundation seeks to support individuals with Down syndrome and empower families raising children with disabilities.
This marks the second time in 2026 that the Players Trust has recognized Burger's charitable efforts. In May, he was named the organization's Most Valuable Philanthropist, resulting in a $10,000 grant to The Burger Family Foundation. Funds from that grant supported the development and launch of The Lucky Ranch, a multi-acre facility in Nashville, Tenn., designed to create employment opportunities for adults with disabilities.
Throughout his time with the Rangers, Burger has been actively involved in a variety of community-focused efforts, including:
- Raising over $150,000 through his foundation’s ‘Down Syndrome Is Cool’ merchandise initiative. The collection of apparel and accessories serves as a platform for advocacy, helping spark conversations about Down syndrome while promoting inclusion and acceptance.
- Hosting ‘Down Syndrome Awareness Day’ at Globe Life Field in both 2025 and 2026, with proceeds from specialty ticket and ‘Down Syndrome is Cool’ merchandise sales benefiting local Down syndrome organizations.
- Partnering with the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation and Delaware North Sportservice to donate a portion of proceeds from every Jake Burger jersey sold at Globe Life Field over the last two seasons to The Burger Family Foundation. Burger wears No. 21 in recognition of Trisomy 21, the clinical term for Down syndrome.
- Underwriting seven food distributions at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy in West Dallas, providing roughly $30,000 in fresh produce and shelf-stable goods to Academy athletes and their families this summer.
- Dedicating time on team road trips to visit dozens of ‘GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center’ locations across the country. In May of this year, Jake and Ashlyn hosted an event at Miracle League Doug Inman Field in Arlington to raise funds towards the opening of a GiGi’s Playhouse in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.