Alec Burleson

Alec Burleson's Biography

Alec Michael Burleson, born on November 25, 1998, is a recognized figure in the world of Major League Baseball (MLB). As an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman, he is currently part of the esteemed St. Louis Cardinals team. Hailing from Denver, North Carolina, his journey began at East Lincoln High School, showcasing remarkable talent even as a junior in 2016. With a record of .390 hitting and six home runs in the season, he also impressed as a pitcher, reaching a 0.83 ERA.

In his 2017 senior year, he further demonstrated his prowess, achieving a batting average of .429 with three home runs, nine doubles, and 23 RBIs. His exceptional performance crowned him as the Southern District 7 2A Offensive Player of the Year. Rather unexpectedly, he was not selected in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. However, undeterred by this, Burleson continued his baseball career at East Carolina University.

Burleson made his name well-known in the intercollegiate baseball scene during his freshman year in 2018. He made his mark with a batting average of .252 and 18 RBIs over 36 games and 103 at-bats. In addition, his pitching success continued, recording 54 innings, a 5–2 record, a 3.33 ERA, and four saves. For his exceptional freshman year performance, Burleson was awarded the American Athletic Conference Rookie Pitcher of the Year. That summer, he participated in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, playing for the Bethesda Big Train.

Continuing his trajectory towards success, in his sophomore year in 2019, Burleson delivered a stunning .370 hit rate with nine home runs and 61 RBIs. Additionally, he held a 6–2 record and 3.28 ERA over 60+1⁄3 innings as a pitcher. This performances earned him spots on the AAC First Team as an outfielder and the Second Team as a utility player. Beyond his university commitments, he played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team and made a brief appearance in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Bourne Braves.

In the face of adversity during the encroaching COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Burleson exhibited finesse on the field in his junior season. He demonstrated a .375 hit rate and 12 RBIs over 17 games, while maintaining a 4.24 ERA over four starts before the season was unfortunately cut short. Always versatile in his roles, Burleson had started games at first base, left field, right field, designated hitter, and as a pitcher.

Following his junior season, in the second round of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft, fortunes took a turn in favor of Burleson as the St. Louis Cardinals selected him 70th overall. Upon signing for $700,000, he was unable to play a minor league game in 2020 as the season was cancelled. The 2021 season saw him starting with Peoria Chiefs of the High-A Central and quickly advancing through the minor leagues, moving onto the Springfield Cardinals and then to the Memphis Redbirds. His minor league efforts culminated in a .270/.329/.454 slash line with 22 home runs and 76 RBIs over 119 games.

The tale continued favorably for Burleson, as he returned to Memphis to start the 2022 season. Over 109 games, he recorded impressive stats, slashing .331/.372/.532 with 20 home runs, 87 RBIs, and 25 doubles. The Cardinals selected his contract on September 6, 2022, taking a leap of faith to promote him into the major leagues. His MLB debut on September 8 saw him starting as a right fielder, despite going hitless over four at-bats with a walk in a game against the Washington Nationals. Not long after, on September 11, he collected his first MLB hit against the Pittsburgh Pirates, contributing to a 4-3 St. Louis win. More notably, he hit his first MLB home run on September 23 at Dodger Stadium, firing up an 11-0 Cardinals win against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 2023 season had Alec Burleson taking a regular turn with the St. Louis Cardinals in 107 games, batting .244 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs. Despite his high performance, the season ended abruptly for him due to a thumb injury in September. Multi-skilled as ever, he played left field, right field, first base, and took turns as a designated hitter. The journey of Alec Burleson from his high school days to his professional baseball career is indeed a testament to his determination, resilience, and sheer talent. As a standout player for the St. Louis Cardinals, he is a player to watch, hinting at many more brilliant performances in the future.