2026 Stats
AVG
.364
HR
1
RBI
4
R
3
SB
1
Rest-of-Season 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, $3.3 million contract with the Cardinals in January of 2026.
Homers in three-hit effort
Burleson went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Thursday's 9-7 win over the Rays.
Analysis
The Cardinals lost several key hitters this offseason, as Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan and Nolan Arenado have all gone elsewhere, but Burleson opened the season as St. Louis' No. 3 hitter and should maintain strong RBI upside from this spot. The 27-year-old hit a career-high .290 with 18 homers, 26 doubles and 69 RBI over 497 regular-season at-bats a year ago, and he's off to a fast start in 2026 with his Opening Day long ball.
The Cardinals lost several key hitters this offseason, as Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan and Nolan Arenado have all gone elsewhere, but Burleson opened the season as St. Louis' No. 3 hitter and should maintain strong RBI upside from this spot. The 27-year-old hit a career-high .290 with 18 homers, 26 doubles and 69 RBI over 497 regular-season at-bats a year ago, and he's off to a fast start in 2026 with his Opening Day long ball.
Batting Stats
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2026 MLB Game Log
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Batting Order Slot Breakdown
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Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2024
+35%
OPS vs RHP
2026
+100%
OPS vs RHP
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024vs Left | .607 | 271 | 6 | 25 | .231 | ||||
| Since 2024vs Right | .821 | 880 | 34 | 126 | .295 | ||||
| 2026vs Left | .650 | 5 | 0 | 0 | .250 | ||||
| 2026vs Right | 1.302 | 9 | 1 | 4 | .429 | ||||
| 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 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
| Minor League Splits→ | View Minor League Split Stats | ||||||||
Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2024
+13%
OPS at Home
2026
-100%
OPS at Home
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024Home | .818 | 583 | 20 | 78 | .297 | ||||
| Since 2024Away | .721 | 568 | 20 | 73 | .262 | ||||
| 2026Home | 1.065 | 14 | 1 | 4 | .364 | ||||
| 2026Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2025Home | .858 | 268 | 10 | 38 | .302 | ||||
| 2025Away | .747 | 276 | 8 | 31 | .278 | ||||
| 2024Home | .773 | 301 | 9 | 36 | .291 | ||||
| 2024Away | .696 | 292 | 12 | 42 | .246 | ||||
| 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
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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
Showing improved patience
Burleson went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts during Monday's spring game against the Nationals, but he has a .286/.459/.393 slash line with one homer and eight walks through 38 Grapefruit League plate appearances.
Analysis
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Reaches deal with St. Louis
The Cardinals and Burleson avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.3 million contract Thursday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Analysis
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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
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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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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.