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.
Alec Burleson Goes on IL with thumb fracture
St. Louis placed Burleson on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left thumb fracture.
Analysis: Burleson suffered the season-ending injury while sliding into third base Tuesday night against the Brewers and underwent surgery Wednesday morning. The 24-year-old finishes the 2023 campaign with a .244/.300/.390 slash line, eight home runs, 20 doubles and 36 RBI in 107 major-league games.
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