Alec Burleson

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). He was born on November 25, 1998, in Denver, North Carolina. Burleson attended East Lincoln High School where he showcased his talent, earning accolades for his performance. Following high school, he played college baseball at East Carolina University. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft and made his debut in 2022. Burleson has quickly established himself in the league, leading the Cardinals in RBIs and receiving the Silver Slugger Award in 2025.

Early Life and Background

Alec Burleson was born and raised in Denver, North Carolina. He attended East Lincoln High School, where he began to make a name for himself in baseball. As a junior in 2016, he had an impressive batting average of .390, hitting six home runs and pitching to a remarkable 0.83 ERA. His senior year saw him further excel, as he batted .429 with three home runs, nine doubles, and 23 RBIs, earning the title of Southern District 7 2A Offensive Player of the Year. After high school, Burleson continued his baseball journey at East Carolina University, where he played for the college baseball team.

Path to Baseball

At East Carolina University, Burleson made significant strides in his baseball career. In his freshman year in 2018, he batted .252 with 18 RBIs over 36 games while also contributing as a pitcher. His performance earned him the American Athletic Conference Rookie Pitcher of the Year award. In 2019, he had a standout sophomore season, hitting .370 with nine home runs and 61 RBIs, which led to his recognition on the AAC First Team as an outfielder. Burleson also played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team that summer, showcasing his skills on a national level. His junior year in 2020 was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he still managed to hit .375 with three home runs and 12 RBIs over 17 games.

Alec Burleson Career

Early Career (2022-2023)

Alec Burleson was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals as an outfielder in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft. He signed with the team for $700,000 but did not play in the minor leagues that year due to the cancellation of the season. In 2021, he began his professional career with the Peoria Chiefs in High-A Central, quickly moving up to the Springfield Cardinals in Double-A Central and then to the Memphis Redbirds in Triple-A East. By the end of the 2021 season, he had a combined batting average of .270 with 22 home runs and 76 RBIs across 119 games. Burleson returned to Memphis to start the 2022 season, where he continued to impress with a .331 batting average, 20 home runs, and 87 RBIs over 109 games.

Breakthrough (2022)

Burleson made his Major League Baseball debut on September 8, 2022, as the starting right fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Although he went hitless in his first game, he quickly made his mark by collecting his first MLB hit on September 11 and hitting his first home run on September 23 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2022, he played in 16 games, finishing with a batting average of .188, one home run, and three RBIs.

Notable Works and Milestones

In 2023, Burleson became a regular player for the Cardinals, appearing in 107 games and batting .244 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs. He faced a setback with a thumb injury that ended his season early. In 2024, he solidified his role as an everyday player, participating in 152 games and leading the team with 78 RBIs while maintaining a .269 batting average with 21 home runs.

Alec Burleson Award Nominations

Throughout his career, Alec Burleson has received notable nominations and accolades, including the prestigious Silver Slugger Award, which he won in 2025 for his outstanding performance.

Alec Burleson Awards Won

Alec Burleson has achieved significant recognition in his early career, most notably winning the Silver Slugger Award in 2025, highlighting his exceptional skills as a hitter.