Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger joined the GBag Nation show on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM) to discuss his return to Texas after a stint at Triple-A, how he’s pulling himself out of his early-season slump, his experience with new hitting coach Bret Boone and more.
Highlights of the conversation are below, edited lightly for clarity.
What’s been working for you since returning from Triple-A?
Jake Burger: Just getting back to who I am. That’s the biggest thing. Not trying to think too much about what the pitcher’s trying to do to me and what I’m going to try and do to the pitcher. Being on the hunt and being that aggressive self and just going out there and having fun. That’s what this game’s about.
What was that like for you in April as you went through your struggles?
Burger: I feel like, for me, it’s just kind of part of it. Last year I kind of had a similar four-week stint there with the same type of thing going on where I was just kind of getting too wrapped up in mechanics or whatever it may be. Just trying to go out there and compete the best I can, even when you don’t have your move. That’s just part of baseball and that’s why I think the season’s so long. It’s part of it. You just keep moving on and can’t live in the past too much.
Is it kind of jarring when you go to the minor leagues when you have the big league life for a while?
Burger: Yes and no. Obviously, you don’t have the type of travel and all the perks that come with being a big leaguer. But it’s the same game at the end of the day. Just trying to get back to who you are and take it in stride. It’s really easy to sulk and sit there and be negative about something like that, but for me, I took it as a positive thing. I kind of got back to who I am. Took my three days, got my family settled back in Tennessee. It’s always great to have that little extra family time that you didn’t expect to get. Went down to El Paso, great staff down there, great teammates and just had a lot of fun. I think, just try and carry that fun and joy every single day I can.
Is there anything to your first year with a new team that you want to set the tone with a new fan base and you’re pressing as a hitter?
Burger: Yeah, I think that’s always a big part of it for a lot of guys. You’re trying to prove yourself to an ownership group, a front office, new teammates, new fanbase, the list goes on. That’s always tough to come to terms with. At the end of the day, we’re all true competitors and we want to prove that we’re here to help and we want to win. That can turn both positive and negative in terms of pressing. Knowing who you are and being true to yourself is the biggest point in that whole thing. We’ve done it for so long, just be yourself.
What’s the Bret Boone experience been like?
Burger: He’s been awesome. He played for so long and understands how hard it is to be in that box, day in and day out. Just been really good at simplifying it. Him and I have had some really good conversations about, I think for me, my default is, “Oh my god, I’ve got to pull the ball,” but I think that’s not who I am. When I’m at my best, I’m driving the ball to right center and pulling balls to left accidentally and that’s been the major focal point of our conversations so far.
What was your first taste of the Rangers-Astros rivalry like?
Burger: That’s intense. That 1-0 game, Hunter Brown, [Jacob] deGrom, that’s a playoff atmosphere-type game. Just super intense. Those are the type of games I want to play in, day in and day out. Just to have that back and forth and that energy, intensity and having the fans behind us during that entire series was awesome.
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.