Struggling first baseman’s 2026 approach needs to be offensive outlook for every Rangers’ hitter

Of the myriad of off-season moves that didn't turn out very well in 2025, first baseman Jake Burger's inconsistency in the middle of the Rangers' lineup was among the most debilitating.

And the new approach that he wants to take into 2026 should serve as a blueprint for the rest of the Rangers, who made the job of opposing pitchers far too easy at times last season with quick, non-productive at-bats. They need to manufacture more runs than they did this past season.

Much of that was due to him being on the injured list three separate times with three different injuries. But another component of his disappointing season was that he believes he took the wrong approach at the start of the year, which put him behind the eight ball early on.

Jake Burger can improve his consistency by being in better shape

It's difficult to discern what makes some players more prone to injuries than others. But one objectively axiomatic thing is that the better shape you are in physically, the less likely you are to be bitten by the injury bug.

In a season that saw the big first baseman hit just .236 with 16 home runs and a .419 slugging percentage, not being in the lineup every day because of all his trips to the IL was a big part of the struggle.

Burger believes he needs to play every day to reach his full potential, saying, "I feel like if I get 500 to 600 ABs a year, I'm gonna be right where I need to be. That just didn't happen this year....(there were) some good moments, some really ugly moments.”

With the Miami Marlins in 2024, Burger notched 579 at-bats and had a solid season, hitting .250 with 29 homers and 76 RBIs. His slash was an impressive .301/.406/.707.

It was clear to the naked eye that Burger was carrying some extra weight last season, and maintaining his fitness during the off-season and during the season is the first step toward being available more often in 2026.

Burger is focusing on his approach to begin the season as well

Burger has always been a better second-half hitter. For his career, he has hit .232 before the All-Star break, improving to .272 in the second half. So another goal should be evening out that split in 2026.

Burger has an idea of how to approach that as well.

"I do think in the last two years I've probably fallen into the trap -- starting in Spring Training -- of taking too many swings and doing too much,” he continued, “I feel like I put together really good off-seasons, and the first week of spring, I feel really good. The BP is electric, lives are good and then it kind of tapers off, because you're making minor tweaks, rather than just being like, ‘Hey, that's what I did for 16 weeks, just keep grinding that out.’

Other Rangers should heed Burger's attitude by working the count more often

All season long, the Rangers were undisciplined at the plate, often swinging wildly at pitches out of the zone and making outs quickly. Burger has pledged to dig in to the box and make the pitcher work to get him out every at-bat. Other hitters should be taking a similar approach if the offense is going to improve.

Along with having a better eye at the plate, the slugger is also going to focus on putting the ball in play more often and being aware of situational approaches that make opposing pitchers work harder when they face him.

Swinging for the fences in 2025 just didn't get it done, and to hear Burger acknowledge that and want to improve is refreshing and should be a priority up and down the lineup under first-year manager Skip Schumaker.

The Rangers need Burger to lead by example and commit to all of these things to get the best ROI on the $3.1 million they have invested in him for the 2026 season.