RADIO
Alec Burleson 2022 Outlook: 2021 Strides Point to 2022 Breakout
3 years agoAdmittedly, Burleson's numbers — especially at Triple-A — don't pop but the context is important here. The 23-year-old was the 70th overall selection in the 2020 draft out of college by the Cardinals — an organization that has a strong history of uncovering collegiate gems outside the first round. The pandemic delayed the young outfielder's pro debut until the 2021 season and he played at three minor league levels — including 63 games in Double-A and 45 games in Triple-A. He showed more power than expected with 22 homers and made huge strides with his contact rates as the year progressed. Although he hit just .234 at Triple-A, Burleson's strikeout rate was just 16% and his .260 BABIP shows that he suffered some bad luck with balls in play. He does a nice job using the whole field so he should hit for a solid average with 20+ home run potential — especially once the big league coaches help him create more (consistent) loft to his swing. With a strong month or two in Triple-A, Burleson could be ready to push for playing time in St. Louis.
