Charlotte Knights manager Wes Helms thinks it will take Jake Burger at least 25 games to get comfortable at second base. Burger made a surprise start at second in Thursday’s 9-3 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in Charlotte.
Helms also said the idea to expand Burger’s positional flexibility was made by White Sox Director of Player Development Chris Getz a few weeks ago — before Nick Madrigal’s season-ending injury.
Normally, a second baseman’s debut, which included fielding four routine grounders and a fairly simple double play relay, is not newsworthy. This especially would be the case when one of his teammates hit his 5th home run in his last nine at bats, a second teammate hit two home runs and had five RBI, and yet another teammate pitched at least six innings for his fifth straight outing.
However, Tim Beckham’s ongoing home run barrage, Mikie Mahtook’s two long balls and Mike Wright’s continued mastery on the mound — each impressive in its own right — were probably not as significant as Burger’s new position.
Burger had no trouble with four ground ball chances. Then, in the top of the eighth, with a runner on first, Jacksonville’s Chad Wallach, a slow-footed catcher, hit an easy ground ball to shortstop Matt Reynolds, who flipped to Burger at second. Burger pivoted in time to get Wallach at first, though he and Reynolds had a good chuckle afterward as Burger stumbled a bit on the turn.
“I tripped over the bag a little bit,” Burger said, “but I still got it done.”
“I feel really comfortable with the flips and with positioning,” he continued. “It is just the turns at second base that (are the biggest challenge). You’ve got to stay on the bag and you’ve got to get rid of it quick. But It felt pretty natural. I’d been working on it since Durham — the beginning of last week. You have a lot more time over there than third base, so you can better read the hops.”
Helms said he and Getz conceived the idea of Burger playing second a few weeks ago.
“We’re always looking for players who can play multiple positions,” Helms said. “Kind of like Gavin Sheets going to the outfield, things like that, that can improve the White Sox and improve these guys’ value. We thought it was worth a try. You are probably looking at 25-plus games to get him to the point where he feels comfortable if he did get called up and Tony threw him out there.”
Helms is pleased with Burger’s first attempt at second base but acknowledged that there’s a long way to go.
“He needs to have every situation thrown at him multiple times,” he explained. “He needs to cover the bag on different double-play balls, different tags from the catcher, covering the bag on outfield throws. It’s not the ground balls. The ground balls do not worry me with him. You saw that tonight. It’s going to be the exchanges, where to be on the bag, when to leave the bag.”
Thursday’s Game — Pitching
Mike Wright struggled uncharacteristically in the first, walking the leadoff hitter, committing an error on a pick-off attempt, and wild-pitching the runner to third before wriggling off the hook. One inning later, the Knights’ ace settled in, giving up five hits, the one walk and two earned runs over six innings, with six strikeouts.
It is Wright’s fifth straight start of six innings or more. His record improves to 4-1, his fourth win in a row, and his ERA dips to 2.32.
Kodi Medeiros, Connor Sadzeck and Nik Turley finished up the game, giving up two hits and one run, with five strikeouts and, amazingly, NO walks. That has to be a first on the season and is a major point of emphasis for the staff, which has been averaging seven walks a game.
Thursday’s Game — Hitting
The Knights smashed a season-high five home runs, along with a double and four singles, plus with five walks. Mikie Mahtook hit two round trippers (five RBI), giving him eight homers on the season; Tim Beckham hit his team-leading 9th home run, and fifth in three days; Nate Nolan socked his fourth; and Jake Burger hit his eighth. Gavin Sheets added a double.
Roster News
Reliever Zack Burdi was called up Thursday to take Adam Eaton’s spot on the active roster. Eaton hit the IL with a hamstring strain.
Photo credit: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights
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