The Texas Rangers placed first baseman Jake Burger on the 10-day injured list on Saturday because of a left oblique strain.
In a corresponding move, the Rangers recalled rookie first baseman Justin Foscue from Triple-A Round Rock.
Burger, 29, felt tightness on his left side on a swinging strikeout in the seventh inning of the Rangers’ 6-2 win in Pittsburgh on Friday night.
“I was hopeful going into the scan that it was just some sort of cramp kind of thing,” Burger said Saturday. “I think, for me, I’ve dealt with this in the past, and it’s been pretty quick. My mind’s on 11 days. I’ll let my body tell me and work with the training staff and strength staff, but my mind’s on that 11th day, and getting back as soon as I can.”
Burger is batting .220 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs in 65 games. He is second on the team with 13 doubles.
For his career, Burger is a .246 hitter with 82 homers and 214 RBIs in 409 games for the Chicago White Sox (2021-23), Miami Marlins (2023-24) and Rangers. He was sidelined for about three weeks last season with the Marlins because of a left intercostal strain. He missed about 10 days with a mild oblique strain while playing for the White Sox in 2023.
Foscue, 26, played in 15 games last season for the Rangers and batted .048 (2-for-42) with one RBI. Texas selected him 14th overall in the 2020 MLB Draft out of Mississippi State. He has hit .269 with 10 homers and 37 RBIs in 50 games for Round Rock.
Rangers infielder Ezequiel Duran, who is hitting .143 (7-for-49) in 24 games, could get the nod at first base, manager Bruce Bochy said.
“I’d like to give Zeke some runway here,” Bochy said. “I think he’s been swinging better, and he gives us a good option there at first base. It’s been good to see him make some adjustments.”
–Field Level Media
