This Rangers Opening Day performance makes him favorite to lead offense this year

New manager Skip Schumaker and the Rangers knew that Opening Date facing Phillies' ace Cristopher Sanchez would be a challenge. True to form, Sanchez was tough to figure out on his way to collecting a 5-3 win, going six scoreless innings, allowing three hits while fanning 10.

Nobody touched Sanchez but there was one Ranger who got to him for a hit and then blasted a 438-foot homer to close the gap late in the game. If Jake Burger can stay healthy and be the power hitter they traded for before the 2025 season, then he can become the bellcow for the offense this year.

Jake Burger is bringing his hot bat from spring training into the regular season

Burger has been hitting well for the last several weeks in Surprise and brought his hot bat with him to Philadelphia in the clean-up spot. Burger finished the spring session hitting well over .300 and tattooed four dingers in what was a steady month for the slugger at the plate.

In the season opener, he got to Sanchez for a single and then gathered two more hits against the Philly bullpen, including a two-run bomb to left center that got the Rangers on the board in the 9th.

A more consistent Burger would be huge for the Rangers in 2026

Make no mistake, despite a lackluster season in 2025, Jake Burger is a bruising slugger who could transform the offense if he can continue to mash. His looming presence in the four hole could provide an element that last year's squad was sorely lacking, as he, Joc Pederson and Josh Jung all struggled badly to find a consistent power stroke.

Coming off what was an injury-riddled and disappointing season, it is clear that Burger is looking to set the tone for the offense early and be the guy that provides a right-handed power bat to go along with Corey Seager right before him in the lineup.

Seeing him appear poised to return to his 2023 and 2024 form, when he hit 63 home runs and collected 156 RBIs with a slugging percentage right around .450, is something positive to take away from the season opening defeat and build on.