Central STL News

ST. LOUIS -- During a broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network, Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa made a notable remark when Cardinals’ outfielder Alec Burleson executed a sliding catch along the right-field line. "Whoaaaa, look at Larry Walker," La Russa exclaimed, referring to the former Gold Glove winner and member of the 2004 Cardinals team. He then questioned, "That’s not Larry Walker?"

Burleson expressed that he would welcome comparisons to Walker, who was the 1997 NL MVP and a five-time All-Star with teams including the Expos, Rockies, and Cardinals from 1989-2005. Burleson has been focusing on improving his defense and conditioning to maintain his position in the outfield while contributing offensively.

“I think I’ve probably put in more work outside the nine innings than I have during the games,” said Burleson after an 8-0 loss to the Cubs. He mentioned working with Willie McGee and others over recent years to enhance his defensive skills.

Despite Wednesday's defeat against the Cubs, Burleson's defensive prowess was evident in Tuesday's 8-7 victory where he made crucial plays including robbing Pete Crow-Armstrong of a hit. Manager Oliver Marmol praised Burleson's progress: “The confidence is pretty high with his first step [improving], and his overall determination to get better at that [right field] position has been awesome.”

In addition to his outfield role, Burleson's versatility allows him to play first base and designated hitter (DH), which benefits team strategy by freeing up other positions.

Meanwhile, pitcher Erick Fedde faced challenges during Wednesday's game against the Cubs. After conceding several runs early on, Fedde acknowledged he needs a new approach for their upcoming match-up at Wrigley Field. “I’ll have a lot to look at and I’ll have [the Cubs] again in 10 days," Fedde stated.

Burleson's commitment extends beyond defense; he's shown exceptional hand-eye coordination at bat as well. His statistics place him among MLB's top performers in various offensive metrics this season.

Teammate Nolan Arenado commended Burleson: “Burly’s got a great swing, and he’s a great hitter, and when he makes great plays for us, that’s just huge.”