Missouri State University third baseman, Jake Burger, has been selected by the Chicago White Sox as the 11th overall pick. Monday, he became the sixth Bear to be selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Burger, a junior at MSU, is the Bear’s highest overall draftee since the Washington Nationals selected Ross Detwiler with the sixth overall pick of the 2007 draft.
Burger has helped the Bears win two Missouri Valley Conference titles and two NCAA Regional crowns in his three-year career.
Last week, Burger became just the third Bear to receive first-team All-America honors from Baseball America. The Chesterfield, MO native was named the 2017 MVC Player of the Year.
Other former Baseball Bears chosen in the opening round of the draft include Jon Harris (2015), Pierce Johnson (2012), Brett Sinkbeil (2006) and John Rheinecker (2001).
Overall, according to MSU, the Bears have produced 136 players who have gone on to sign professional contracts over their 54 years as a varsity program, including 116 during Keith Guttin’s 35-year tenure as head coach.
