The Chicago White Sox selected third baseman Jake Burger from Missouri State University with their first pick (11th overall) in tonight's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Burger, a 21-year-old junior, batted .328 (81-247) with 13 doubles, 22 home runs, 65 RBI, 69 runs scored, three stolen bases, 43 walks, a .443 on-base percentage and .648 slugging percentage in 63 games for No. 22 Missouri State this season. He ranks among the Division I leaders in runs scored (T6th) and home runs (7th). Burger is currently ranked by Baseball America as the No.1 third baseman in the draft.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Burger, who bats right-handed, was named First Team All-America by Baseball America and the Joe Carter Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. He is a semifinalist for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award.
"Last year we felt that we added the best left-handed power in the country, and this year we feel that we added the best right-handed power in the country," said Nick Hostetler, White Sox director of scouting. "We identified Jake early and knew he was a guy - hit wise - was exactly what we wanted to do as an organization."
Burger was named the NCBWA District VI Player of the Year and was a Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist in 2016 after hitting .349 (82-235) with 21 homers and 72 RBI. He just missed winning the MVC Triple Crown as he led the conference in RBI and ranked second in average and home runs. Burger was selected to the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award Team and played in 19 games with the USA Collegiate Team. He was named MVC Defensive Player of the Year in 2015.
Burger owns a .339 (241-710) average with 48 doubles, five triples, 47 homers, 179 RBI, 169 runs scored, 10 steals, a .420 on-base percentage and .620 slugging percentage in 176 games over three seasons with Missouri State.
Burger, a Chesterfield, Mo. native, joins catcher Zack Collins (2016, 10th overall), right-handed pitchers Zack Burdi (2016, 26th) and Carson Fulmer (2015, eighth), left-hander Carlos Rodon (2014, third) and infielder Tim Anderson (2013, 17th) as the White Sox most recent first-round selections.
Burger, who bats right-handed, is the fifth third baseman selected by the White Sox in the first round since 1965, joining Dan Haynes (1967), Ted Nicholson (1969), Robin Ventura (1988) and Josh Fields (2004).
Burger was recommended by White Sox scout Clay Overcash.
The White Sox next pick is during tonight's second round (49th overall).