Alec Burleson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #6 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium
  
  Track Record: At East Carolina, Burleson was a two-way player who earned a Collegiate National Team nod in 2019. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the supplemental second round in 2020 and has excelled as a position player in his two pro seasons. Burleson played 109 games with Triple-A Memphis in 2022 and hit .331/.372/.532 with 20 home runs, winning the International League batting title. He made his MLB debut on Sept. 8 and played in 16 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Burleson's profile is heavily driven by his ability to hit for both average and power. He's a career .300 hitter in the minors, and while he hit just .188 for St. Louis, he also struck out just 17% of the time. Burleson's swing is geared for contact, with a flatter bat path that is adept at spraying a high rate of line drives to all fields. He's a plus bat-to-ball hitter who runs high in-zone contact rates. Burleson's approach borders on aggressive, and he's prone to expanding the zone. His stout, 6-foot-2, 212-pound build has natural strength. His ability to muscle the ball manifests in his batted-ball data, with an average Triple-A exit velocity of 89.7 mph in 2022. While Burleson gets to above-average power in games, he never gets out of his line-drive focused approach and swing. Defensively, Burleson is limited to a corner, where his range and route-running are fringy. His arm is average but is strong enough to project to left or right field.
  
  The Future: Bat-driven corner-outfield prospects who are hit over power aren't the most attractive profiles. Regardless, Burleson has performed dating back to his amateur days. He is a potential everyday corner outfielder capable of hitting at the top half of a lineup.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Run: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #10 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Burleson excelled as a two-way player throughout his college career at East Carolina, including earning a selection to the USA Baseball Collegiate National team, and was drafted by the Cardinals in the supplemental second round in 2020. He made his pro debut in 2021 and rose three levels from High-A to Triple-A, hitting a combined .270/.329/.454 with 22 home runs in 119 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Previously known as a contact-oriented hitter who rarely struck out, Burleson began taking bigger swings and increased his power production in his pro debut. He shows a propensity for barreling the ball and making hard contact in games, although the added power has come with more strikeouts as he’s started expanding the zone. Burleson’s bat path is still relatively flat, but he has a chance to add more loft to his swing and hit for even more power in the future. He should even out as an average hitter with average power. Burleson at times plays average defense in left and right field, but his arm is fringy despite his two-way background and he needs to be more consistent. He can also play first base, where he shows good footwork and actions.
  
  The Future: Burleson should start the 2022 season back at Triple-A. His major league debut won’t be far off if he continues to swing the bat well.
  
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #26 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Burleson was a star from day one at East Carolina as a pitcher and in his sophomore season turned into one of the Pirates' best hitters as well. He was a member of USA Baseball's Collegiate National team as a two-way player. As the 70th overall pick, he became the fourth-highest draftee in school history.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Burleson does not accept strikeouts as a price of power. He struck out just 37 times in his three years at ECU and just three times in 75 plate appearances as a junior. Despite his size and strength, Burleson is primarily a contact-oriented hitter who does not sell out to get to power. He hit .341/.387/.496 for his ECU career. There is hope that his focus on hitting will help him focus on getting even stronger, as his profile is somewhat dependent on him getting to more of his above-average raw power. The Cardinals are going to start Burleson in the outfield, a spot he played sporadically as an amateur. His below-average speed limits him to the corners, but he also has shown he's a nimble first baseman.
  
  THE FUTURE: Pure hitters often get to their power eventually if they keep making solid contact, and Burleson generates loads of consistent contact.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #182 prospect in 2020 draft
  One of the better two-way players in college baseball, Burleson has been a reliable hitter and pitcher for East Carolina and also served in both roles for Team USA’s Collegiate National Team last summer. With the national team, Burleson hit .267/.353/.467 in eight games and also posted a 2.53 ERA in 10.2 innings coming out of the bullpen. While he has pitched and hit at the amateur level, almost all pro teams prefer him as a hitter. On the mound he throws with well below-average fastball velocity and doesn’t have any one pitch that grades out as an above-average offering. As a hitter, many teams are intrigued with Burleson’s natural feel to hit. A career .341/.387/.496 hitter with the Pirates, Burleson’s above-average hit tool is his best attribute. While he is listed at 6-foot-2, 212 pounds, Burleson doesn’t have the typical power that a corner outfielder or first baseman needs to profile. He’s a hit-over-power bat, who’s shown an ability to get his knocks at whatever level he’s played at. He’s shown solid raw power in batting practice, but that has translated more to doubles in games, with a career-high nine home runs during his sophomore season. Defensively, Burleson can handle a corner outfield spot, but he’s a below-average runner who will be just serviceable at best there and is a better fit for first base, where coaches have praised his footwork and hands. While Burleson is a bit of a one-dimensional position player, he picked the right tool to excel at and many teams should be interested in his bat in the top five rounds.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium
  
  Track Record: At East Carolina, Burleson was a two-way player who earned a Collegiate National Team nod in 2019. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the supplemental second round in 2020 and has excelled as a position player in his two pro seasons. Burleson played 109 games with Triple-A Memphis in 2022 and hit .331/.372/.532 with 20 home runs, winning the International League batting title. He made his MLB debut on Sept. 8 and played in 16 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Burleson's profile is heavily driven by his ability to hit for both average and power. He's a career .300 hitter in the minors, and while he hit just .188 for St. Louis, he also struck out just 17% of the time. Burleson's swing is geared for contact, with a flatter bat path that is adept at spraying a high rate of line drives to all fields. He's a plus bat-to-ball hitter who runs high in-zone contact rates. Burleson's approach borders on aggressive, and he's prone to expanding the zone. His stout, 6-foot-2, 212-pound build has natural strength. His ability to muscle the ball manifests in his batted-ball data, with an average Triple-A exit velocity of 89.7 mph in 2022. While Burleson gets to above-average power in games, he never gets out of his line-drive focused approach and swing. Defensively, Burleson is limited to a corner, where his range and route-running are fringy. His arm is average but is strong enough to project to left or right field.
  
  The Future: Bat-driven corner-outfield prospects who are hit over power aren't the most attractive profiles. Regardless, Burleson has performed dating back to his amateur days. He is a potential everyday corner outfielder capable of hitting at the top half of a lineup.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Run: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium
  
  Track Record: At East Carolina, Burleson was a two-way player who earned a Collegiate National Team nod in 2019. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the supplemental second round in 2020 and has excelled as a position player in his two pro seasons. Burleson played 109 games with Triple-A Memphis in 2022 and hit .331/.372/.532 with 20 home runs, winning the International League batting title. He made his MLB debut on Sept. 8 and played in 16 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Burleson's profile is heavily driven by his ability to hit for both average and power. He's a career .300 hitter in the minors, and while he hit just .188 for St. Louis, he also struck out just 17% of the time. Burleson's swing is geared for contact, with a flatter bat path that is adept at spraying a high rate of line drives to all fields. He's a plus bat-to-ball hitter who runs high in-zone contact rates. Burleson's approach borders on aggressive, and he's prone to expanding the zone. His stout, 6-foot-2, 212-pound build has natural strength. His ability to muscle the ball manifests in his batted-ball data, with an average Triple-A exit velocity of 89.7 mph in 2022. While Burleson gets to above-average power in games, he never gets out of his line-drive focused approach and swing. Defensively, Burleson is limited to a corner, where his range and route-running are fringy. His arm is average but is strong enough to project to left or right field.
  
  The Future: Bat-driven corner-outfield prospects who are hit over power aren't the most attractive profiles. Regardless, Burleson has performed dating back to his amateur days. He is a potential everyday corner outfielder capable of hitting at the top half of a lineup.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Run: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Burleson excelled as a two-way player throughout his college career at East Carolina, including earning a selection to the USA Baseball Collegiate National team, and was drafted by the Cardinals in the supplemental second round in 2020. He made his pro debut in 2021 and rose three levels from High-A to Triple-A, hitting a combined .270/.329/.454 with 22 home runs in 119 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Previously known as a contact-oriented hitter who rarely struck out, Burleson began taking bigger swings and increased his power production in his pro debut. He shows a propensity for barreling the ball and making hard contact in games, although the added power has come with more strikeouts as he&#39s started expanding the zone. Burleson&#39s bat path is still relatively flat, but he has a chance to add more loft to his swing and hit for even more power in the future. He should even out as an average hitter with average power. Burleson at times plays average defense in left and right field, but his arm is fringy despite his two-way background and he needs to be more consistent. He can also play first base, where he shows good footwork and actions.
  
  The Future: Burleson should start the 2022 season back at Triple-A. His major league debut won&#39t be far off if he continues to swing the bat well.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 55. Speed: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 45.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Burleson excelled as a two-way player throughout his college career at East Carolina, including earning a selection to the USA Baseball Collegiate National team, and was drafted by the Cardinals in the supplemental second round in 2020. He made his pro debut in 2021 and rose three levels from High-A to Triple-A, hitting a combined .270/.329/.454 with 22 home runs in 119 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Previously known as a contact-oriented hitter who rarely struck out, Burleson began taking bigger swings and increased his power production in his pro debut. He shows a propensity for barreling the ball and making hard contact in games, although the added power has come with more strikeouts as he’s started expanding the zone. Burleson’s bat path is still relatively flat, but he has a chance to add more loft to his swing and hit for even more power in the future. He should even out as an average hitter with average power. Burleson at times plays average defense in left and right field, but his arm is fringy despite his two-way background and he needs to be more consistent. He can also play first base, where he shows good footwork and actions.
  
  The Future: Burleson should start the 2022 season back at Triple-A. His major league debut won’t be far off if he continues to swing the bat well.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Burleson was a star from day one at East Carolina as a pitcher and in his sophomore season turned into one of the Pirates' best hitters as well. He was a member of USA Baseball's Collegiate National team as a two-way player. As the 70th overall pick, he became the fourth-highest draftee in school history.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Burleson does not accept strikeouts as a price of power. He struck out just 37 times in his three years at ECU and just three times in 75 plate appearances as a junior. Despite his size and strength, Burleson is primarily a contact-oriented hitter who does not sell out to get to power. He hit .341/.387/.496 for his ECU career. There is hope that his focus on hitting will help him focus on getting even stronger, as his profile is somewhat dependent on him getting to more of his above-average raw power. The Cardinals are going to start Burleson in the outfield, a spot he played sporadically as an amateur. His below-average speed limits him to the corners, but he also has shown he's a nimble first baseman.
  
  THE FUTURE: Pure hitters often get to their power eventually if they keep making solid contact, and Burleson generates loads of consistent contact.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Burleson was a star from day one at East Carolina as a pitcher and in his sophomore season turned into one of the Pirates' best hitters as well. He was a member of USA Baseball's Collegiate National team as a two-way player. As the 70th overall pick, he became the fourth-highest draftee in school history.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Burleson does not accept strikeouts as a price of power. He struck out just 37 times in his three years at ECU and just three times in 75 plate appearances as a junior. Despite his size and strength, Burleson is primarily a contact-oriented hitter who does not sell out to get to power. He hit .341/.387/.496 for his ECU career. There is hope that his focus on hitting will help him focus on getting even stronger, as his profile is somewhat dependent on him getting to more of his above-average raw power. The Cardinals are going to start Burleson in the outfield, a spot he played sporadically as an amateur. His below-average speed limits him to the corners, but he also has shown he's a nimble first baseman.
  
  THE FUTURE: Pure hitters often get to their power eventually if they keep making solid contact, and Burleson generates loads of consistent contact.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Burleson was a star from day one at East Carolina as a pitcher and in his sophomore season turned into one of the Pirates' best hitters as well. He was a member of USA Baseball's Collegiate National team as a two-way player. As the 70th overall pick, he became the fourth-highest draftee in school history.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Burleson does not accept strikeouts as a price of power. He struck out just 37 times in his three years at ECU and just three times in 75 plate appearances as a junior. Despite his size and strength, Burleson is primarily a contact-oriented hitter who does not sell out to get to power. He hit .341/.387/.496 for his ECU career. There is hope that his focus on hitting will help him focus on getting even stronger, as his profile is somewhat dependent on him getting to more of his above-average raw power. The Cardinals are going to start Burleson in the outfield, a spot he played sporadically as an amateur. His below-average speed limits him to the corners, but he also has shown he's a nimble first baseman.
  
  THE FUTURE: Pure hitters often get to their power eventually if they keep making solid contact, and Burleson generates loads of consistent contact.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  One of the better two-way players in college baseball, Burleson has been a reliable hitter and pitcher for East Carolina and also served in both roles for Team USA’s Collegiate National Team last summer. With the national team, Burleson hit .267/.353/.467 in eight games and also posted a 2.53 ERA in 10.2 innings coming out of the bullpen. While he has pitched and hit at the amateur level, almost all pro teams prefer him as a hitter. On the mound he throws with well below-average fastball velocity and doesn’t have any one pitch that grades out as an above-average offering. As a hitter, many teams are intrigued with Burleson’s natural feel to hit. A career .341/.387/.496 hitter with the Pirates, Burleson’s above-average hit tool is his best attribute. While he is listed at 6-foot-2, 212 pounds, Burleson doesn’t have the typical power that a corner outfielder or first baseman needs to profile. He’s a hit-over-power bat, who’s shown an ability to get his knocks at whatever level he’s played at. He’s shown solid raw power in batting practice, but that has translated more to doubles in games, with a career-high nine home runs during his sophomore season. Defensively, Burleson can handle a corner outfield spot, but he’s a below-average runner who will be just serviceable at best there and is a better fit for first base, where coaches have praised his footwork and hands. While Burleson is a bit of a one-dimensional position player, he picked the right tool to excel at and many teams should be interested in his bat in the top five rounds.
• December, 2019 Scouting Report
  One of the better two-way players in college baseball, Burleson has been a reliable hitter and pitcher for East Carolina and also served in both roles for Team USA’s Collegiate National Team last summer. With the national team, Burleson hit .267/.353/.467 in eight games and also posted a 2.53 ERA in 10.2 innings coming out of the bullpen. While he has pitched and hit at the amateur level, almost all pro teams prefer him as a hitter. On the mound he throws with well below-average fastball velocity and doesn’t have any one pitch that grades out as an above-average offering. As a hitter, many teams are intrigued with Burleson’s natural feel to hit. A career .341/.387/.496 hitter with the Pirates, Burleson’s above-average hit tool is his best attribute. While he is listed at 6-foot-2, 212 pounds, Burleson doesn’t have the typical power that a corner outfielder or first baseman needs to profile. He’s a hit-over-power bat, who’s shown an ability to get his knocks at whatever level he’s played at. He’s shown solid raw power in batting practice, but that has translated more to doubles in games, with a career-high nine home runs during his sophomore season. Defensively, Burleson can handle a corner outfield spot, but he’s a below-average runner who will be just serviceable at best there and is a better fit for first base, where coaches have praised his footwork and hands. While Burleson is a bit of a one-dimensional position player, he picked the right tool to excel at and many teams should be interested in his bat in the top five rounds.