The Heartwarming Business of Baseball

Rookie third baseman and former first-round draft pick Jake Burger made his major-league debut for the White Sox last night in Detroit, and you could say things went pretty well for someone who’s torn his left Achilles twice. Burger had two hits and a run scored. Fellow rookie Gavin Sheets added a ninth inning, three-run homer in an 8-2 Sox win. After the game, Burger could barely speak for holding back tears. Given the injuries (including a bruised heel after the two torn Achilles), doubt set in, to the point that Burger on occasion literally cried himself to sleep. Any professional athlete who admits that publicly is more than OK in my book. With Burger and Sheets coming out of nowhere—alright, Triple-A Charlotte—to produce, it’s easy to forget what this means for other players. Right now, if I’m Adam Eaton, I wouldn’t expect to be back on the South Side next year. Throw in rehabbing Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert, and Eaton looks to be a goner. Zach Burdi, another first-round pick who happened to play in the same high-school conference as Clare, finds himself in a similar situation. Since being drafted out of Louisville in 2016, Burdi has suffered through Tommy John surgery and other detours on his way to the major leagues. It’s at a point now where he needs to draw attention with his fastball or face becoming just another arm looking for work. Called up in late June, Burdi posted a 6.00 ERA in six games and nine innings of work. With Burger called up and Eaton reinstated from the IL, somebody had to go, and it was Burdi. ( Ryan Burr, another reliever caught between being a prospect and a suspect, was called up around the same time as Burdi, with this difference. Burr has a 0.00 ERA over ten games and thirteen innings. Like Burdi a recipient of Tommy John, the 27-year old Burr looks to have seized his opportunity.) Somebody else had to go to make room for Burger and Eaton, and the powers that be decided on Yermin Mercedes. You can’t help but wonder if this isn’t a carryover from manager Tony La Russa criticizing Mercedes for breaking an unwritten rule (swinging 3-0 in a blowout) back in May. Rick Hahn says with Yoan Moncada nursing a hand injury, Burger provided more flexibility than Mercedes. Maybe. But you have to wonder how a 28-year old who finally hit his way onto a major-league roster took the news. Burger at least had family and friends around him during his travails. Right now, Mercedes is a very long way from home in the Dominican Republic. How will he go to sleep at night? You wonder.