Texas Ranger Jake Burger explains the meaning behind his new jersey number

At the Texas Rangers annual team wards dinner on Friday, newly acquired first baseman Jake Burger explained how his daughter’s birth influenced him to change his uniform number.

Burger’s daughter, Penelope, was born on Oct. 25 with Down syndrome. And this inspired him to change his number from 36 to 21 in his first year with the Rangers to raise awareness for the genetic condition

“Twenty-one is a very important number: Trisomy 21 is what Down syndrome is clinically called, and it’s an extra copy of the 21st chromosome,” Burger said. “So for me, this is the first time I can pick a number that’s not just close to my heart, but close to a lot of people’s hearts. And for me, it’s trying to spread awareness and try to get the word out about Down Syndrome and how people can get support. I’m just really proud of this number and really excited to wear this and represent my daughter.”

Burger also said that his daughter was doing well but that she would require surgery which would cause him to miss some of spring training.

“She’s doing great,” said Burger, “Unfortunately, she still has something wrong with her heart that she has to have open heart surgery. But she’s the strongest little person I know, and I know she’s going to get through that with a breeze. She’s got an awesome family around her and an awesome mom.”

Burger’s brother-in-law, who is Penelope’s godfather, also has Down syndrome which he said helped him prepare for the diagnosis.

The first baseman also announced plans to start a foundation for the people he called the “lucky few.”

“We’re going to start a foundation,” said Burger, “I think it’s going to help a lot of people. It’ll have a lot of ties with where we live, in Tennessee, but also in Texas, and so we’re really, really excited to push that forward and help as many families as we can.

“For us, we call it the lucky few. That’s, you know, families with Down syndrome, with a kid affected with Down syndrome, and that’s how my wife, Ashton and I feel. That’s how Brooks feels as her brother and we’re just so, so grateful to have this opportunity to help as many families out there as we can.”

Burger, who was traded from the Miami Marlins in December, had begun thinking about changing his number once his daughter was born and credited his wife for coming up with the idea.

Burger, a Missouri native, was thankful for all the people around the country who have given him support.

“We’re just so thankful for everybody that’s reached out,” said Burger.

”When we were kind of telling our story. So many people have reached out around the country. Have just given a ton of love,”