Jake Burger Revamps Preparation After Injury-Plagued Season Ahead of 2026

This article digs into Jake Burger’s tough 2025 season with the Texas Rangers. It unpacks how injuries and uneven play threw him off, and how he’s trying to rebuild his approach to get back his power and consistency.

What Changed for Jake Burger in 2025?

Burger had a strong two-year stretch, but his move to the Rangers brought a rough patch and a string of injuries that kept him off balance. He started the year in a deep slump, hitting just /.186 with three homers in 29 games and a sky-high 30.5% strikeout rate.

That led to a quick demotion to Triple-A and a back-and-forth ride on the injury list. Oblique, quad, and wrist problems limited his time, but he still played 103 games and finished with a .236/.269/.419 line and 16 homers in 376 plate appearances.

Burger’s no stranger to injuries. Back in 2018, he suffered a brutal rupture and re-tear of his left Achilles, plus other setbacks in the minors that slowed his growth. He now thinks he tried to force results too soon after each injury, which messed with his swing and power.

Statcast backs this up. His intercept point moved back and his attack angle dropped, which sapped his pull-side power. His Pull Air Rate dropped to 13.5% in 2025—way down the list at 290th out of 348 qualifiers.

Statcast Signals: What Was Working and What Fell Short

Even with the power dip, Burger’s batted-ball numbers still jumped off the page. He put up a 114.7 mph max exit velocity, a 90.4 mph average exit velocity, a 13.9% barrel rate, and a 48.5% hard-hit rate.

Those stats show he still brought raw impact, at least when he made contact. The real challenge? Turning that into steady production, especially when injuries kept getting in the way.

The Road Back: How Burger Is Rebuilding

After a year of setbacks, Burger started a two-pronged rebuild: injury prevention and a total reset of his mental and mechanical prep. He split up his mechanical tweaks and in-game approach, focusing on a process-oriented practice routine and, honestly, just trying to find some joy in playing again.

Spring training brought a few early positives. He went 3-for-11 with a homer and showed some big exit velocities, which at least hints that the work might pay off.

Injury Prevention and Mental-Mechanical Reset

Burger added Pilates three times a week to build core strength, flexibility, and balance. He also worked on keeping his adjustments at the plate separate from his in-game mindset.

The goal? Make each at-bat less stressful and more focused on his mechanics. If he can widen his comfort zone, maybe he’ll get back his power and stay healthy all year.

Spring Progress and Early Signs of Life

Early spring results gave a little hope. Mechanical tweaks, better timing, and a refreshed mindset led to harder contact and more consistency.

If that sticks and he stays on the field, Burger thinks he can find the strength and steadiness that once made him a key part of the Rangers’ lineup. Frankly, after the last year, who wouldn’t root for that?

Rangers Outlook: Can Burger Help Restore Contention?

Burger’s 2025 arc carries clear implications for the Rangers’ trajectory. If he can stay healthy and keep up his refined approach, Burger might reclaim the power stroke that once made him a real threat in the lineup.

• Health is the hinge: The season’s narrative really pivots on Burger’s ability to stay on the field and stick with a cleaner swing.
• Power upside remains: Even with the struggles, his max exit velocity and hard-hit rate point to elite upside—if his timing returns and the swing tweaks actually stick.
• Process over results: Focusing on the process could lead to longer, more productive plate appearances. That might cut down on the chasing that tripped him up in 2025.
• Role clarity: The Rangers will count on his versatility. If Burger can put together sustained offensive output, he’s got legit multi-position value.

Burger’s trying to blend injury prevention with a more deliberate mechanical-revision program. The baseball world’s watching, wondering if a seasoned veteran with those raw tools can really help push the Rangers back into playoff contention.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Jake Burger’s injury-filled season led to a revamped approach heading into 2026