2025 Stats
AVG
.290
HR
18
RBI
69
R
54
SB
5
2026 Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
The most encouraging part of Burleson's 2025 campaign was the left-handed batter's improvement versus left-handed pitching. He entered the season with an anemic .209/.244/.288 career batting line against southpaws but slashed .271/.310/.398 against lefties this past season. The line still pales in comparison to Burleson's .296/.353/.478 slash line versus righties, but the 27-year-old's strides against left-handers allowed the Cardinals to deploy him as an everyday player rather than a long-side platoon bat. Burleson didn't hit lower than cleanup from June 19 on, and the intention is to use him similarly in 2026. He's a non-factor in the stolen-base department, but Burleson hits the ball hard, has elite contact skills and boasts dual eligibility. With his newfound everyday player status, his counting status should be on the upswing. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a one-year, $778,700 contract with the Cardinals in March of 2025.
Shifting to first base
Burleson will become the Cardinals' everyday first baseman in 2026 following the trade of Willson Contreras (shoulder) to the Red Sox, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis
Burleson has primarily played the outfield in pro ball, but he has ample experience at first base, as well, having made 38 starts there during the 2025 season. The 27-year-old will have dual eligibility in fantasy leagues in 2026, but it's unclear whether he will see enough action in the outfield to retain eligibility there heading into 2027. The left-handed-hitting Burleson greatly improved versus left-handed pitching in 2025 -- slashing an adequate .271/.310/.398 -- and the Cardinals intend to give him everyday reps in 2026 rather than saddling him with a platoon partner.
Burleson has primarily played the outfield in pro ball, but he has ample experience at first base, as well, having made 38 starts there during the 2025 season. The 27-year-old will have dual eligibility in fantasy leagues in 2026, but it's unclear whether he will see enough action in the outfield to retain eligibility there heading into 2027. The left-handed-hitting Burleson greatly improved versus left-handed pitching in 2025 -- slashing an adequate .271/.310/.398 -- and the Cardinals intend to give him everyday reps in 2026 rather than saddling him with a platoon partner.
Batting Stats
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2025 MLB Game Log
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2022
Minor League Game Log
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Batting Order Slot Breakdown
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Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2023
+30%
OPS vs RHP
2025
+17%
OPS vs RHP
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023vs Left | .606 | 295 | 6 | 31 | .234 | ||||
| Since 2023vs Right | .785 | 1186 | 41 | 152 | .280 | ||||
| 2025vs Left | .708 | 126 | 3 | 13 | .271 | ||||
| 2025vs Right | .830 | 418 | 15 | 56 | .296 | ||||
| 2024vs Left | .514 | 140 | 3 | 12 | .195 | ||||
| 2024vs Right | .804 | 453 | 18 | 66 | .292 | ||||
| 2023vs Left | .607 | 29 | 0 | 6 | .259 | ||||
| 2023vs Right | .699 | 315 | 8 | 30 | .243 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
| Minor League Splits→ | View Minor League Split Stats | ||||||||
Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2023
+18%
OPS at Home
2025
+15%
OPS at Home
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023Home | .811 | 736 | 24 | 95 | .292 | ||||
| Since 2023Away | .688 | 745 | 23 | 88 | .250 | ||||
| 2025Home | .858 | 268 | 10 | 38 | .302 | ||||
| 2025Away | .747 | 276 | 8 | 31 | .278 | ||||
| 2024Home | .773 | 301 | 9 | 36 | .291 | ||||
| 2024Away | .696 | 292 | 12 | 42 | .246 | ||||
| 2023Home | .803 | 167 | 5 | 21 | .279 | ||||
| 2023Away | .583 | 177 | 3 | 15 | .211 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Alec Burleson compare to other hitters?
This section compares his stats with all batting seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 400 plate appearances)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
BB/K
0.49BB Rate
7.2%K Rate
14.5%BABIP
.312ISO
.169AVG
.290OBP
.343SLG
.459OPS
.801wOBA
.350Exit Velocity
91.0 mphHard Hit Rate
35.0%Barrels/PA
7.4%Expected BA
.275Expected SLG
.461Sprint Speed
21.1 ft/secGround Ball %
39.5%Line Drive %
18.3%Fly Ball %
42.1%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Batting Stats
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Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
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Batted Ball Stats
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Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2025
2024
2023
The Cardinals had disappointments up and down their lineup last season, but Burleson was a bright spot, leading the team with 78 RBI and finishing one off the club lead with his 21 home runs. Seventeen of those long balls came before the All-Star break, as Burleson trailed off badly in the second half, particularly in September. He also had just a .514 OPS against left-handed pitching and rarely played versus southpaws down the stretch, so a strong-side platoon in 2025 appears likely. A .292/.341/.464 line against righties makes Burleson well suited for such a role, and a 12.8 percent strikeout rate and above-average batted-ball metrics means he's a good bet for batting average. Too many grounders and Busch Stadium as his home park could make him a merely adequate power source, however.
More Fantasy News
Sitting Sunday
Burleson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Analysis
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Racks up three hits in win
Burleson went 3-for-4 with a double, a hit-by-pitch and a run scored in Friday's 7-1 win over the Brewers.
Analysis
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Cranks 18th home run
Burleson went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a double and a walk in Wednesday's loss to the Reds.
Analysis
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Reinstated from injured list
The Cardinals activated Burleson (wrist) from the 10-day injured list Monday.
Analysis
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Set for Monday return
Burleson (wrist) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday's game against the Mariners, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Possible extension candidate
Burleson is a candidate to sign a contract extension with the Cardinals, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis
The Cardinals are going through a rebuilding phase, but Burleson is a player that could be part of their core for the next several years. The 27-year-old has showed steady progression offensively, finishing with a .290/.343/.459 batting line and 18 home runs for St. Louis in 2025. Burleson is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this offseason and is under team control through 2028.
The Cardinals are going through a rebuilding phase, but Burleson is a player that could be part of their core for the next several years. The 27-year-old has showed steady progression offensively, finishing with a .290/.343/.459 batting line and 18 home runs for St. Louis in 2025. Burleson is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this offseason and is under team control through 2028.