NEW YORK — Jake Berger has never been one to shy away from making his impact known. Over the past month and a half, the 28-year-old has made his presence felt with the bat in Miami, smashing a major league-leading 17 home runs since July 2, outselling such standouts as Juan Soto and Anthony Santander. But while MLB's Players Weekend gives the league's stars a chance to express themselves and honor the causes and loved ones that drive their journeys, Berger is using his bat to send a different kind of message.
Berger will be using two custom bats made by Old Hickory for this weekend's game against the Mets. They represent his two greatest loves and passions: family and mental health awareness. Berger said with a wry smile that which bat he uses on Sunday will depend on how his swing goes.
“For me, even when I don't have the opportunity to use one of these types of bats, anytime I feel anxious or overwhelmed, I think of my family,” Berger said, “and now it's better to actually have a visual.”
Berger's first bat is a homecoming in more ways than one. Decked out in red, white and blue, it features the Tennessee state flag on the body of the bat and the names of loved ones, including his wife, Ashlyn, inscribed on the handle. Berger used it every time he was at bat in Friday's 7-3 loss, hitting his 24th home run of the season. Berger plans to have it framed and put it on display in his home.
“Honestly, it's one of the coolest moments. Probably my favorite home run I've ever hit,” Berger said. “Just holding their name in my hand … and then hitting it and having them in the stands cheering for me. It doesn't get any better than that.”
“I'm really blessed to have my family, so I'll show my appreciation and gratitude to them in any way I can.”
Since coming to Miami from the White Sox at the 2023 trade deadline, Berger's family has thrived and grown, giving him even more reasons to play the sport he loves. In May, the Bergers enjoyed a special moment on the field, when Ashlyn and her son Brooks threw the first pitch to Jake. And with another child on the way, Berger continues to find things to be thankful for every time he steps onto the field.
Perhaps an underrated part of the end of the season is how tough it can be for players, with the constant transfer rumors weighing on top of all the other considerations of surviving a 162-game season. Add in the ups and downs of players' performance throughout the year, and those struggling moments on the field can be especially isolating.
Berger says she will never forget the people who have been by her side all this time, providing love and support in return.
“[Our family]is the only constant in our lives. There are so many moving parts in this sport,” Berger said. “I got through the trade deadline and was able to get on a plane with my family. Ashlyn did a great job for me… She was like, 'I'll take care of everything outside of baseball, you just have to go out there and play.'”
“I couldn't have done this without her. And I don't say that lightly. Being married with kids, she really is a great band together when you go through this. … When I was struggling earlier this year, I was able to vent to her and she picked me up during difficult times, and vice versa. Being able to communicate with each other and knowing that at the end of the day, we are each other's backs and if we're strong together, nothing can get in our way.”
The other bat, lime green and named for the mental health awareness movement for athletes, was worn Saturday. It features the movement's large green ribbon on the body of the bat, Berger's “Burger Bomb” slogan and a semicolon on the knob of the bat to represent suicide awareness.
Berger's passion for advocating for mental health awareness among athletes began after he ruptured his Achilles tendon on February 26, 2018, a date that was tattooed on his left arm and inked on the handle of his bat this weekend. After rupturing his Achilles tendon again two months later, Berger suffered from anxiety, depression and PTSD as a result of the injury and has spoken openly online and publicly about his mental struggles.
Berger acknowledges the tough, masculine nature of the sport and works to counteract those stereotypes with an open approach. His willingness to discuss mental health issues with teammates and other players (who will likely be dealing with similar anxieties and struggles throughout their careers) is more important than you might think.
“There's not a single guy in this clubhouse that hasn't experienced some sort of adversity and you never know how it affects your mental state,” Berger said. “To be able to share what I've been through and be able to pass that on to the other guys is huge. … It's a very small community and we all know how tough this sport is. Being able to have those conversations is as important as anything.”
