Secure position of Cardinals' Runway player guaranteed for the remainder of the season
The St. Louis Cardinals' outfield has seen a shift in its playing time distribution, with 26-year-old outfielder Alec Burleson emerging as a key regular player. Burleson, drafted in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft, has been a standout performer this season, earning a regular spot in the lineup down the stretch.
Burleson's offensive production has been impressive. He has hit .333 with an on-base plus slugging line of .374/.592, and a weighted runs created plus (wRC+) of 158 over 138 games. These numbers place him in a strong position among his peers, with his OPS trailing only Ivan Herrera among players with at least 240 plate appearances.
Moreover, Burleson's ability to pull fly balls (15.9%) is a significant contributor to his power this year, and he has slugged 14 home runs, second most on the Cardinals behind Willson Contreras (15). His strikeout rate is also impressively low at 13.2%, placing him in the 90th percentile in the league.
The Cardinals, who have a limited number of positions on the field due to the need to distribute playing time among several players, have recognised Burleson's potential and given him a regular spot in the outfield. Specifically, Burleson has secured an everyday role in right field, a position he has taken over and performed exceptionally well in.
The team's manager, Oliver Marmol, has identified Burleson as an everyday corner outfielder for the rest of the season. This decision comes as part of Marmol's strategy to balance playing time and competition among several players on the team.
The 2025 season is a crucial one for the Cardinals, as they evaluate which players will be future core pieces. While the decision is not yet clear for most of the players, Burleson's consistent performance and growing role within the team suggest that he is a strong contender for a lasting spot in the Cardinals' lineup.
In a recent development, Ivan Herrera has started seeing reps in left field, which could potentially lead to a rotation of Burleson as designated hitter when Herrera is in the outfield. This further solidifies Burleson's position as a versatile and valuable player for the St. Louis Cardinals.
[1] Data sourced from MLB.com and Baseball-Reference.com [2] Data as of September 15, 2025
Alec Burleson's impressive performances this season have caught the attention of MLB, as his .333 batting average, .374/.592 on-base plus slugging line, and a wRC+ of 158 on 138 games place him among the top players in the league. Additionally, his 14 home runs, second most on the Cardinals, and his low 13.2% strikeout rate contribute to his standout status in the sport.
