St. Louis Cardinals young and powerful left-handed bat Alec Burleson won’t play much in the outfield this season. Cardinals’ manager Oliver Marmol said Burleson will be splitting time with Willson Contreras at first base and designated hitter, according to a report from MLB.com reporter John Denton.
Young Cardinals Left-Handed Bat Switching Positions
Burleson Part of a First Base Platoon
Burleson’s MLB time has been in one of the outfield corners. Burleson has played 140 of his 270 MLB games in his three-year career in the outfield, compared to 38 at first base and 87 at DH. The 26-year-old is the latest player to be moved around this offseason as the Cardinals try to optimize their lineup. Contreras moved positions to first base as well this offseason from catcher.
Marmol told Denton that the “high majority” of Burleson’s playing time will be at first base or DH. However, Denton noted that if the Cardinals need to move him back to the outfield to keep his bat in the lineup, they will. Through Spring Training, Burleson and Contreras will trade off days at first base.
The Cardinals are seeking to fill the void left by former MVP Paul Goldschmidt departing the team this offseason. Burleson is no stranger to first base. In college at East Carolina, Burleson split time between first base and pitcher, with some games in the outfield. Burleson splitting time at first base with Contreras gives the team options as Contreras bats right, and Burleson bats left.
Keeping His Bat in the Lineup
Burleson was one of the Cardinals most productive bats in 2024. He sported the seventh-lowest strikeout rate in the League at 12.8 percent. He had the 16th-highest squared-up rate per swing in the League at 31 percent.
Burleson’s combination of low strikeouts and good contact led him to solid numbers throughout the year. He led the team in RBI with 78 and a slugging percentage of .420. Burleson was also second on the team in home runs at 21.
Only five Cardinals played more than 150 games last season, and Burleson was one of them. Along with Brendan Donovan, he was the Cardinals most consistent left-handed bat. The Cardinals are poised to continue ensuring he stays in the lineup most days in 2025.
Freeing Up Space in the Outfield
Moving Burleson helps the Cardinals find enough playing time to go around in the outfield. As the Cardinals sift through lineups in Spring Training, they will be looking for playing time for Jordan Walker, Lars Nootbaar, Michael Siani, Victor Scott II, and Donovan. Siani and Scott II are likely to see the most time at center field. Donovan will likely move to the outfield full-time as the Cardinals second base position got more crowded with Nolan Arenado returning.
Beyond the Cardinals hoping Walker bounces back for his potential, he is also the only right-handed bat in the outfield. With Arenado, Contreras, and Masyn Winn all projected to play from the right most days, the Cardinals are fine with a mostly left-handed outfield. However, having at least one solid option for a right-handed bat to round things on put a lot of emphasis on Walker.
Main Photo Credits: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
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