As the St. Louis Cardinals gear up for the 2026 season, the excitement is palpable with the final touches being put on their Opening Day roster. The big question mark remains the starting left fielder, but the lineup is shaping up nicely as the Cardinals prepare to host the Rays.
Alec Burleson stands out as a potential powerhouse in this lineup. With the infield set, a new catching duo on the horizon, and an outfield eager to prove itself, the Cardinals have some solid pieces to build around.
Masyn Winn is looking every bit the franchise shortstop, and JJ Wetherholt is ready to make his mark in the majors. Meanwhile, Nolan Gorman is refining his plate approach, showing promising progress.
But it’s Burleson at first base who might just be the key stabilizer for this young squad.
Coming off a stellar year, Burleson nabbed a Silver Slugger Award as a versatile player, splitting time between first base and the outfield. His 2025 performance was nothing short of impressive, boasting a .290 average with a 125 OPS+ and a career-best .801 OPS.
He was second in RBIs for the team, following a season where he led with 78. Burleson also tapped into more power, with 18 homers, 26 doubles, and two triples, even in fewer games than the previous year.
Despite a lineup missing some heavy hitters, Burleson stepped up. With Willson Contreras leading the team in homers and RBIs, and Ivan Herrera sidelined by injury, Burleson filled the gaps left by underperformers like Nolan Arenado, Nolan Gorman, and Jordan Walker, as well as an injury-plagued Lars Nootbaar. Now, as the Cardinals look to rebound, Burleson’s leadership will be crucial, especially with Contreras, Arenado, and Donovan no longer in the picture.
During the offseason, the Redbird Rundown team delved into Burleson’s Statcast numbers, highlighting his offensive prowess and future power potential. With Burleson set to focus primarily on first base, 2026 could be his breakout year.
FanGraphs projects Burleson as the fourth-most valuable hitter for the Cardinals, a ranking that could be seen as either promising or concerning. If he supports rising stars like Masyn Winn, JJ Wetherholt, and Ivan Herrera, it’s a positive sign.
However, his defensive evaluation by FanGraphs seems to undervalue his potential impact. Burleson’s defensive skills have been underrated, and his focus on first base could elevate his game even further.
While not in the Gold Glove conversation yet, Burleson has proven he can handle multiple positions. Though his defensive metrics have been below average, he rarely makes costly mistakes. With his offensive firepower, that’s often enough.
Burleson is determined to improve defensively, and reports from camp are optimistic about his abilities at first base. With a secure spot in the lineup’s heart and a focus on one position, expect Burleson to exceed that 2.0 fWAR projection and make a significant impact this season.