Missouri State junior Jake Burger was named to the preseason All-America first team by the PerfectGame.org website on Monday.
Burger hit .349 with 82 hits, 13 doubles, 21 home runs and 72 RBIs for the Bears in 2016, flirting with the Missouri Valley Conference Triple Crown. He is ranked No. 30 by MLB.com among draft-eligible players going into the 2017 season.
The PerfectGame.org description of Burger includes this passage: “A primary corner infielder who should be able to stick at the hot corner thanks to playable hands and a strong arm across the diamond, Burger’s righthanded swing is the most alluring aspect of the game as it’s one of the loudest bats in the country.