St. Louis Cardinals OF Makes Major Changes This Offseason in Effort to Improve in 2024
After a disappointing year in 2023, St. Louis Cardinals' outfielder Alec Burleson had made some big changes heading into 2024.
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Burleson revealed Saturday that he's lost 12 pounds so far this offseason in an effort to become a more reliable defender, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
ANALYSIS
Burleson graded out at minus-9 in Statcast's Outs Above Average in 2023, with most of that coming in the outfield. The 25-year-old has implemented a stricter diet this offseason and also worked on increasing his mobility, leading to weight loss and, he hopes, improved defense. Burleson posted just a .691 OPS last season, but a 13 percent strikeout rate and 41 percent hard-hit rate offered some promise. He currently projects as a reserve for the Cardinals but could see semi-regular starts between the outfield, designated hitter and first base.
The Cardinals, who finished fourth in the National League Central last season, would certainly welcome a bounceback season from Burleson, who can be a key piece of their turnaround.
The 25-year-old made his major league debut in 2022 and is a lifetime .237 hitter with nine home runs and 39 RBI.
In addition to the changes from him, the Cardinals have signed pitchers Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson and Sonny Gray to deals this offseason.
They last got to the playoffs in 2022 and are hoping that their 2023 season was just a mirage.
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