(670 The Score) The White Sox on Friday promoted infielder Jake Burger from Triple-A Charlotte in a series of roster moves ahead of their evening game at the Detroit Tigers.
Additionally, Chicago optioned struggling designated hitter Yermin Mercedes to Triple-A, reinstated outfielder Adam Eaton from the injured list and optioned right-hander Zack Burdi to Triple-A.
Burger, 25, is hitting .322 with 10 homers and 36 RBIs in 42 games at Charlotte this season. He has also been selected to represent the White Sox in the Futures Game on July 11 as part of the All-Star festivities. The White Sox selected Burger in the first round of the 2017 amateur draft. He missed the 2018 season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon and was injury-plagued in 2019 as well.
Burger's promotion comes as White starting third baseman Yoan Moncada is expected to miss the weekend series after suffering a bruised right hand while sliding Thursday. Burger has never appeared in an MLB game, so he'll be making his big league debut when he takes the field.
Mercedes is hitting .270 with seven homers, 37 RBIs and a .729 OPS this season, but he struggled in June, hitting .159 with a .411 OPS.
Eaton was hitting .195 with five homers and 27 RBIs in 30 games before landing on the injured list on June 17 with a right hamstring strain.
Burdi has a 5.00 ERA in six appearances for the White Sox in 2021.