NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Jake Burger is proud of his Major League career. Through five seasons, the Rangers’ first baseman has slugged 88 home runs and established himself as a middle-of-the-order hitter.
But whether he goes 0-for-4 at the plate or 5-for-5, the 29-year-old is most proud of his family he’s built with his wife, Ashlyn.
The past year has been life-changing for them and their 5-year-old son, Brooks, as they welcomed Penelope, who was born in October 2024 with Down syndrome and had to endure open-heart surgery at just four months old.
Penelope is the light of their life, and they honored her with the creation of The Burger Family Foundation, which raises money and creates opportunities for people with Down syndrome and their families. On Sunday, they hosted the inaugural edition of The Lucky Classic, a celebrity softball game that brought together more than two dozen MLB players, musicians and more.
Held at the Triple-A Nashville Sounds’ First Horizon Park, the event sold more than 2,500 tickets and spread joy, with many honorary players with Down syndrome joining big league stars on the field. Burger was overjoyed to help create the experience with his wife, since he is the only active player with a child diagnosed with the genetic condition.
“The main thing is, don't limit somebody based off the diagnosis,” Burger said. “These people are more capable than you know, and they can accomplish so many great things, so don't limit them. Go up to them, talk to them. You might be surprised with who you meet.”
The event kicked off with a home run derby in which country music singer Adam Doleac, who played first base at Southern Miss, topped a field of six that included 13-year MLB reliever Jake Diekman and Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt.
The celebrity teams were then split into two, managed by Burger, who is recovering from September left wrist surgery, and Tony Vitello, the new Giants manager and former Tennessee Volunteers coach. It was a loose, fun atmosphere, with Burger’s team winning 21-18 in seven innings.
The crowd was treated to plenty of power, with home runs from Bryce Harper, Diekman, country singer John Ricketts, Adam Duvall, Travis d’Arnaud, Brandon Lowe, former NFL receiver Eric Decker, Trey Mancini, J.T. Realmuto, Vinnie Pasquantino, Drake Baldwin, Bryan Reynolds (grand slam) and social media star Kevin Lawson. Doleac, fittingly, walked it off for Team Burger with a three-run homer off Harper.
There was also plenty of light-heartedness, including Angels reliever Ben Joyce winning a race in a cheeseburger costume and dancing umpire Vincent Chapman from the Savannah Bananas hamming it up.
“If somebody reaches out and says they have something that they want to put together and would love some help,” Lowe said, “these guys are there at the drop of a hat and not even thinking about anything other than, ‘What can we do to help?’ And I think that's a special testament to the brotherhood that we have in baseball right now.”
The Burgers conceived of this idea during the season but did not imagine that the event would grow so large. Finding time when players are free and artists aren’t touring isn’t simple.
There is a strong contingent of players who live in Nashville over the offseason. Burger works out with Pasquantino, Lowe and Brent Rooker, among others, and many former Vanderbilt players -- including Reynolds and Rangers teammates Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker -- return to Music City. Perennial MVP candidates like Harper and Corey Seager also live locally and participated. But Burger was especially touched by players coming in for the day from across the country.
“It's awesome, guys that you've known for a while in this game, you go through similar stages of life at similar times, whether it's baseball-related, fame-related, parenting,” Rooker said. “It makes our relationships even more special and even deeper than what they are on the field.”
Burger has learned so much from his first year with Penelope and, after he was traded to the Rangers last winter, chooses to wear the uniform number 21 in honor of her (Trisomy 21 is the clinical name for the condition).
The slugger hopes to continue to grow the foundation and bring back The Lucky Classic for many years to come so that they can support many more families and show the world how special people with Down syndrome are.
“I think the main thing is a little perspective shift. She might seem different, but she's not different at all,” Burger said. “What somebody's going through, it doesn't matter what somebody looks like or what somebody's dealing with. I think we're all beautiful humans and we should all inspire love in each other.”