Alec Burleson Bio
Alec Michael Burleson is an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on November 25, 1998, in Denver, North Carolina, he has built his career on a rare blend of two-way ability, contributing as both a power-hitting position player and a former college pitcher. Since his MLB debut in 2022, Burleson has steadily grown into a regular contributor in the Cardinals’ lineup, known for his plate discipline and gap-to-gap power.
After progressing through the Cardinals’ farm system in 2021 and the first half of 2022, Burleson reached the major leagues in September 2022. Across his first three full seasons, he developed into an everyday presence in the outfield, first base, and designated hitter roles. His breakout 2024 campaign, during which he led the Cardinals in RBIs, was followed by a Silver Slugger Award in 2025, cementing his status as one of the National League’s emerging run producers.
Early Life and Background
Alec Michael Burleson was born on November 25, 1998, in Denver, a small community in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Growing up in this region, he was surrounded by a strong tradition of high school athletics, which helped shape his early dedication to baseball. From a young age, Burleson showed a natural aptitude for both hitting and pitching, the foundation of the two-way profile that would later define his amateur career.
He attended East Lincoln High School, where he developed into one of the most productive two-way players in the area. The combination of a strong frame and a coordinated swing allowed him to handle advanced pitching as a teenager, while his work on the mound gave him a unique understanding of how pitchers approach hitters. His performances in high school set the stage for an opportunity at the college level.
Path to Baseball
Despite a productive senior season, Burleson went undrafted in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. He chose to enroll at East Carolina University, where he joined the East Carolina Pirates baseball program. The decision allowed him to refine his skills against top-level American Athletic Conference competition while continuing to develop as both a hitter and a pitcher. His freshman year offered a glimpse of his two-way potential, and he was recognized as the American Athletic Conference Rookie Pitcher of the Year.
As a sophomore in 2019, Burleson elevated his offensive production, batting .370 with nine home runs and 61 RBIs while also handling a workload on the mound. He earned American Athletic Conference First Team honors as an outfielder and Second Team recognition as a utility player. That summer, he represented USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team and appeared briefly in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Bourne Braves, experiences that broadened his exposure to professional-style competition. His junior season in 2020 was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he had already done enough to position himself as a high-profile draft prospect.
Alec Burleson Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Following the abbreviated 2020 college season, the St. Louis Cardinals selected Burleson in the second round, 70th overall, of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft, listing him as an outfielder. He signed for $700,000, but the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season meant his professional debut would have to wait. When organized play resumed in 2021, the Cardinals assigned him to the Peoria Chiefs of the High-A Central to begin the year.
Burleson moved quickly through the system. He earned a promotion to the Springfield Cardinals of the Double-A Central and, by early August, reached the Memphis Redbirds of Triple-A East. Across 119 games at the three affiliates, he posted a combined .270/.329/.454 slash line with 22 home runs and 76 RBIs, demonstrating the offensive consistency that had marked his college career. The performance convinced the Cardinals that he was nearly ready for the major leagues.
St. Louis Cardinals Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Burleson opened the 2022 season back at Memphis and continued to produce, slashing .331/.372/.532 with 20 home runs, 87 RBIs, and 25 doubles over 109 games. On September 6, 2022, the Cardinals selected his contract and brought him to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut on September 8 as the starting right fielder, going hitless over four at-bats with a walk in an 11–6 loss to the Washington Nationals.
His first MLB hit came on September 11, 2022, a single off Duane Underwood Jr. of the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 4–3 Cardinals win. He added his first MLB home run on September 23, connecting off Hanser Alberto of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in an 11–0 victory. Across 16 games and 48 at-bats in his debut month, he hit .188 with one home run, three RBIs, and one double. In 2023, Burleson spent the entire season in the majors, appearing in 107 games and batting .244 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs while splitting time in left field, right field, first base, and designated hitter. A broken thumb in September ended his season early, but he had secured a longer look from the organization.
St. Louis Cardinals Era (2024–Present)
The 2024 season marked Burleson’s first as an everyday player. He appeared in 152 games and led the Cardinals with 78 RBIs while slashing .269/.314/.420 with 21 home runs. His durability and run production gave the Cardinals a reliable middle-of-the-order presence, and his versatility across the outfield, first base, and designated hitter allowed the club to manage lineups and rest patterns more flexibly.
Burleson’s strong offensive form continued into 2025, when he was recognized with the Silver Slugger Award, an honor given to the top offensive player at each position in each league. The award reflected his growth into one of the Cardinals’ most productive bats and validated the organization’s decision to build around his two-way athleticism and plate discipline.
Driving Style and Strengths
Burleson’s offensive profile is built on line-drive contact, gap power, and a patient approach at the plate. He consistently works counts, drives the ball to all fields, and has shown the ability to hit for both average and power. Defensively, his background as a pitcher and outfielder gives him comfort in multiple positions, allowing managers to deploy him at first base, in either corner outfield spot, or at designated hitter depending on the matchup.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most memorable moments are his first MLB hit off Duane Underwood Jr. and his first MLB home run off Hanser Alberto at Dodger Stadium in 2022. In 2024, he led the Cardinals in RBIs with 78, and in 2025 he added a Silver Slugger Award to his résumé, underscoring his rise as one of the team’s cornerstone hitters.
Alec Burleson Career Wins
Burleson does not have a public tally of championship victories in the traditional sense, but his performance milestones are well documented. Across his minor league stops with Peoria, Springfield, and Memphis, and his major league tenure with St. Louis, he has consistently ranked among his team’s top run producers. His offensive output has translated into a steady accumulation of extra-base hits, RBIs, and home runs at every level.
St. Louis Cardinals Highlights
Burleson’s first major league hit came on September 11, 2022, a single off Duane Underwood Jr. of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and his first home run followed later that month off the Dodgers’ Hanser Alberto. In 2024, he led the Cardinals with 78 RBIs while batting .269 with 21 home runs, and in 2025 he earned the Silver Slugger Award in recognition of his offensive production.
Other Wins & Performances
At East Carolina University, Burleson was a two-time All-Conference selection and was named the American Athletic Conference Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 2018. He also represented USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team in 2019 and played in the Cape Cod Baseball League, two of the most prestigious amateur showcases in the country.
Alec Burleson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Burleson grew up in Denver, North Carolina, a community where baseball has long been a central part of local sporting life. Specific details about his immediate family are not widely documented in verified sources.
Personal Life
Burleson focuses much of his public profile on his career with the Cardinals. Verified personal details, including marital status and family life, are not available in current sources.
2025 Season Performance
Burleson’s 2025 campaign with the St. Louis Cardinals has been the most decorated of his career. He was a regular presence in the lineup, contributing as a first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter, and his offensive production was strong enough to earn him the Silver Slugger Award. The award highlighted his standing among the National League’s most productive hitters at his position and reinforced his role as a long-term building block for the Cardinals.
His 2025 performance built on the foundation of his 2024 season, when he had led the team in RBIs. By carrying that production into another full season, Burleson gave the Cardinals a dependable middle-of-the-order bat and a versatile defender, while also continuing to develop as a leader in the clubhouse. With his Silver Slugger Award and his growing list of offensive milestones, his outlook in St. Louis remains firmly tied to the Cardinals’ long-term plans.