GLENDALE, Ariz. — Third baseman Jake Burger, the White Sox’ first-round draft pick in 2017, left the Cactus League game Monday against the Athletics with an Achilles tendon injury.
The extent of the injury, which was being evaluated and will be updated Tuesday, the Sox said, will become more clear, but knowing it presents the possibility of Burger missing a full season of development cast a pall over camp.
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Burger went down about 60 feet up the first-base line while hustling out a grounder to third. Clutching his left leg below the knee, he was down for a few minutes before being helped up and led to a cart.
At 6-4, 220 pounds, Burger made a nice play behind Michael Kopech, doubled and scored in the second inning and was off to a good start this spring. He tripled against the Mariners on Saturday and has three hits in six at-bats.
In a couple of weeks, Burger’s infectious, upbeat personality won over prospects and veterans alike.
“This kid is a good kid, hard worker, has a really good sense of himself,’’ manager Rick Renteria said Sunday.
It hasn’t been a good few days health-wise for prospects. Outfielder Eloy Jimenez was sidelined with a sore left knee. He hasn’t played since Friday but took part in hitting drills and isn’t expected to be out long. Jimenez said the injury isn’t serious, and he didn’t have an MRI exam.
“I just felt some soreness in my knee, but I’m good,” he said.
Outfield prospect Micker Adolfo was diagnosed with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his (right) throwing arm and will be restricted to hitting drills and designated-hitter duty for the near future.
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Email: dvanschouwen@suntimes.com