Rangers’ Jake Burger Hits Home Run Days After Daughter’s Successful Heart Surgery

The first baseman honored his four-month-old daughter, Penelope, born with Down syndrome, by wearing her hospital band during the game.

Jake Burger’s four-month-old daughter, Penelope, underwent successful open-heart surgery on February 24 at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville.
Penelope was born with Down syndrome, and the surgery had been planned as part of her treatment since her birth in October 2024.
Burger hit his first home run with the Texas Rangers on February 27, just days after the surgery, during a spring training game against the Seattle Mariners.
He wore Penelope's hospital band on his wrist during the game and will wear jersey number 21 this season to raise awareness for Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21.
Burger expressed gratitude for the medical team and credited his faith in God and family for helping him through the challenging experience.