Jake Burger hopes to cap an enjoyable weekend in San Francisco when his Texas Rangers vie for a series win over the Giants on Sunday afternoon.
The three-game interleague series began in an unusual fashion — with the home team honoring a visiting player with no tie to the host organization in a pregame ceremony.
The Giants have created a Giants Heart of the Game Award this year to honor players who have demonstrated a connection to kids with special needs. Burger was selected as the first honoree.
Burger, whose 6-month-old daughter Penelope was born with Down syndrome, joined with his wife, Ashlyn, last month to create the Burger Family Foundation, which is dedicated to helping children with the genetic condition and their families.
Burger, who previously had worn Nos. 30 and 36 in his career, switched to 21 this season to bring greater light to what is technically known as Trisomy 21, the number representing the extra set of chromosome 21 that creates the health issue.
“For me, this is the first time I can pick a number that’s not just close to my heart, but close to a lot of people’s hearts,” Burger said at the time. “For me, it’s about trying to spread awareness and trying to get the word out about Down syndrome and how people can get support. I’m just really proud of this number and really excited to wear this and represent (not only) my daughter, but also so many people out there.”
The first-year member of the Rangers was astonished by the Giants’ gesture.
“I know the Giants’ organization does a lot with kids with special needs,” Burger said at Friday’s ceremony. “It’s really incredible that a different organization is going to give me an award for what we’re doing with our foundation.”
Burger doubled and scored a run in the 2-0 win that followed Friday’s ceremony, then drove in both Texas runs with sacrifice flies in Saturday’s 3-2 loss.
The first baseman has faced the Giants’ scheduled Sunday starter, right-hander Jordan Hicks (1-3, 6.59 ERA), just once in his career and was a strikeout victim.
Hicks has just three lifetime appearances against the Rangers, all in relief. He’s gone 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in those games.
The Rangers are expected to counter with fellow right-hander Jack Leiter (2-0, 0.90 ERA), a second-year major leaguer who has yet to face San Francisco.
The Giants had to rally from a 2-0 deficit to prevent an 0-2 start to the series, a rally that culminated in a walk-off single by pinch hitter Patrick Bailey in the ninth inning Saturday.
San Francisco’s first two runs were delivered by the club’s heir apparent to longtime shortstop Brandon Crawford, Willy Adames.
Crawford, who played on championship teams in 2012 and 2014, credits former teammate Buster Posey, now the organization’s president of baseball operations, for charting an encouraging direction.
“I still have a lot of friends on the team, so I’ve definitely been watching them,” assured Crawford, who attended high school in the Oakland suburb of Pleasanton. “There seems to be a new energy with Buster leading the way. I think you feel that in the clubhouse. It’s been fun to watch. I’d love to see them keep it rolling.”
-Field Level Media
