The St. Louis Cardinals earned a lot of love during this year’s Silver Slugger Awards event. Brendan Donovan and Alec Burleson, both utility players, were nominated for the honor.
Both Donovan and Burleson played many innings in various spots. Donnie played the most of his games at second base, although he also saw time in left field and shortstop. Burly spent roughly equal time at first base, left field, and right field. The adaptability of the two players made it easier for manager Oliver Marmol to put together a lineup on a daily basis.
In the vote for the Silver Slugger at the utility position, the two Cardinals faced up against Jake Cronenworth of the San Diego Padres, and the result was announced this evening on FanSided’s The Baseball Insider’s Podcast.
Alec Burleson won the National League’s Silver Slugger Award at the utility position, defeating Jake Cronenworth and his Cardinal teammate Brendan Donovan.
Burleson’s offensive game took off this year. He concluded the season with a.290/.343/.459 slash line, 18 home runs, 69 RBI, and 28 extra base hits (26 doubles, 2 triples). He had the greatest OPS+ of the three finalists, at 125. He outperformed Donovan and Cronenworth in home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage, and batting average.
Alec Burleson used the 2025 season to showcase his attacking abilities. In a season when the Cardinals needed steady offense and power, Burleson answered the call and delivered. The only months when his OPS was less than.859 were March/April (.602) and August (.713). He was quite consistent and important to the lineup all year.
Burleson wasn’t regarded as a “runway” player to begin the season. In fact, he felt behind Nolan Gorman on the depth chart early in the season. Burly did not let this discourage him, and he turned it on in May to earn a regular starting position.
“This has happened to me before, so I understand what it takes to keep things from unraveling when you get your chances and how to make the most of them,” Burleson said back in June when discussing his role as a flexible starter. “It’s more of a mental battle than a physical one. I want to play every day, and I have to keep myself in that mindset.”
This season, Burleson made key adjustments at the plate, improving both his patience and power. His walk rate climbed, his isolated power (.169 ISO) reached a career high, and his barrel rate jumped from 6.5% in 2024 to 9.5% in 2025. He also showed gains in average exit velocity, hard-contact rate, and bat speed—all of which contributed to his across-the-board improvement.
While Burleson’s name has surfaced in trade rumors this winter, his progress should give the Cardinals reason to think twice before moving him. Trading him now might maximize his value, but it could also be a decision the team regrets later.
As St. Louis navigates a transitional phase in its competitive cycle, identifying long-term offensive anchors is essential. Burleson may not yet be among the National League’s elite hitters, but earning his first Silver Slugger is a promising sign of what could be ahead.