October is here and the playoffs are underway. While the postseason may not include the White Sox (for the eighth time in the last ten years), it does include plenty of former White Sox players. None may be more popular than Jake Burger, who was traded at the deadline for Marlins prospect Jake Eder. But the fans aren’t the only ones missing Burger. His former teammates are as well.
“I couldn’t be happier for him,” Gavin Sheets told reporters on Sunday. “He didn’t really get to experience ‘21 with us and I miss him. I miss him a lot so really really excited for him. I was texting with him during our Diamondbacks series. He was letting us know we needed to pull one out for him so when we did I let him know. I’m super excited for him. Super excited to see his success there and the way he has been swinging the bat. You know not surprising at all. I’m excited to see what he can do in the postseason now.”
Before the trade, Burger was having his best season in a White Sox uniform to date. The 27-year-old belted 25 home runs and 52 RBIs in 88 games. Upon arriving in Miami Burger continued to mash baseballs. In 53 games with the Marlins Burger tacked on an additional nine home runs and 28 RBIs all while slashing .303/.355/.505. While the power numbers were slightly down his batting average improved by nearly .100 points upon switching uniforms
Burger is now on a Marlins team that features former White Sox Avisail Garcia, David Robertson, and Johnny Cueto. However, Garica was left off the team's active playoff roster.
The Marlins finished the season 82-76 thanks in part to the addition of Burger. They will now take on the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Wild Card Round.
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