Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger added another line to his resume on Wednesday, and this one had nothing to do with what he does in the batter’s box.
Burger was named the 2026 Philanthropist of the Year in the MLB Players Choice Awards, a recognition from his peers that spotlights the work he and his wife, Ashlyn, have done through the Burger Family Foundation. The nonprofit has become the centerpiece of Burger’s off-field impact, especially in support of causes tied to Down syndrome.
That connection is deeply personal. Burger’s daughter, Penelope, was born with the genetic disorder, and he changed his number to No. 21 in reference to Down syndrome’s clinical term, Trisomy 21.
His foundation has helped drive several major efforts. One of the biggest was the launch of The Lucky Ranch, a Nashville facility meant to create job opportunities for adults with disabilities.
Burger and his wife also raised more than $150,000 through the foundation’s “Down Syndrome Is Cool” merchandising initiative, and they helped the Rangers stage “Down Syndrome Awareness Day” at Globe Life Field in each of the past two seasons. During road trips, Burger also makes time to visit “GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center” locations around the country.
Burger’s charity work has extended beyond those initiatives. He has also helped provide food for Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes and their families, contributing roughly $30,000 in fresh produce and non-perishable goods to the West Dallas facility.
The award comes with a $25,000 grant for the foundation, and it is not the first time Burger has been singled out for his philanthropy. In May, he was named the Players Trust’s “Most Valuable Philanthropist,” which came with a $10,000 grant. He was also Texas’ nominee for the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award, though that honor ultimately went to Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets.
The Players Choice Awards are voted on exclusively by active MLB players. Burger is the first Rangers player to win the Philanthropist of the Year award, though the club has had other players recognized in these awards before, including Jacob DeGrom, who won 2025 AL Comeback Player of the Year, and Marcus Semien, who was named 2023 Man of the Year.
Burger also earned the recognition while turning in a productive season on the field. He led the Rangers with 28 home runs and 90 RBI, and he tied Brandon Nimmo for the most games played at 155. He remains under team control through 2029, and there are still questions about his future in Texas, but the hope is that his influence with the organization continues in more ways than one.
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