PITTSBURGH – St. Louis Cardinals rising star Alec Burleson has emerged as one of baseball’s best midseason hitters, the only hitter among the Top 5 MLB players in runs batted in and hits since the start of June.
Burleson, a second-year outfielder who has gradually worked his way into an everyday Cardinals role, has 55 hits and 42 RBI over 46 games since June 1. He only trails New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge in RBIs (44) over the last two calendar months. His hit count since then ranks second in the National League and only trails four others.
The breakout has come with some big-time hits of recent, including a roof-topping home run in Atlanta on Sunday and a ninth-inning, game-winning hit against one of baseball’s most dynamic young pitchers (Paul Skenes) on Tuesday.
“I feel great. I think everything’s clicking,” Burleson told Bally Sports Midwest’s Jim Hayes in an interview Monday. “I think the key is to stay consistent. I just want to continue to put the ball in play hard, and if they fly out of the park, they fly out of the park.”
Burleson has driven in at least one run in 13 of the Cardinals’ 18 games in July. The Cardinals are 25-13 in games where he’s driven in at least one run. Burleson praises his teammates for cashing in on such opportunities.
“That’s a credit to all of the guys in front if me, like Masyn [Winn] and [Michael] Siani,” said Burleson. “Those guys being on base for me and getting to third with less than two [outs]. Credit to those guys for doing what they can do.”
The 25-year-old also benefits from having one of the lowest strikeout rates (13.9%) on the Cardinals, giving him ample opportunity to put the ball in play and advance runners on base, even during outs. He is also hitting the ball to all parts of the field, adjusting based on how pitchers battle him in at-bats.
“It’s a rollercoaster of a season of how guys pitch you,” said Burleson. “I think for a couple weeks you’ll get pitched a certain way, the next couple of weeks it’s different. Just understanding that, taking what they’re giving you. All day I’ll take my single the other way, and if I can drive the ball that way, that’s a plus too.”
Expect Burleson in the No. 2 spot of the batting regularly for the foreseeable future just behind rookie Masyn Winn.
The Cardinals (53-48) close a six-game road trip on Wednesday in Pittsburgh before returning home Friday. St. Louis currently holds a one-game advantage for spot on a tight Wild Card picture. MLB’s trade deadline, when the Cardinals can complete trades to add to the team, is set for 5 p.m. CT on Tuesday.
