As a freshman at East Carolina in 2018,Burleson batted .252 with 18 RBIs over 36 games and 103 at-bats alongside pitching 54 innings,going 5–2 with a 3.33 ERA and four saves.[4] He was named the American Athletic Conference Rookie Pitcher of the Year.[5] That summer,he played in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League for the Bethesda Big Train.[6] In 2019,his sophomore season,he hit .370 with nine home runs and 61 RBIs,and pitched to a 6–2 record and 3.28 ERA over 60+1⁄3 innings.[7][8] He was named to the AAC First Team as an outfielder, and to the Second Team as a utility player.[9] Over the summer, he played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team and also made a brief appearance in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Bourne Braves.[10][11][12] In 2020, his junior season, Burleson hit .375 with three home runs and 12 RBIs over 17 games, alongside pitching to a 4.24 ERA over four starts, before the college baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] Over his collegiate career, Burleson started games at first base, left field, right field, designated hitter, and as a pitcher.[14]
Burleson returned to Memphis to begin the 2022 season.[24] Over 109 games, he slashed .331/.372/.532 with 20 home runs, 87 RBIs, and 25 doubles.[25]
Burleson of the St.Louis Cardinals in 2024
On September 6, 2022, the Cardinals selected Burleson's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.[26] He made his MLB debut on September 8 as the club's starting right fielder, going hitless over four at-bats with a walk in an 11–6 loss to the Washington Nationals.[27] He collected his first MLB hit on September 11, a single off Duane Underwood Jr. of the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 4–3 St. Louis win.[28] He hit his first MLB home run on September 23 off of Hanser Alberto of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in an 11–0 Cardinals win.[29] Over 48 at-bats in 16 games with the Cardinals in 2022, he hit .188 with one home run, three RBIs, and one double.[30]
Burleson spent the entirety of the 2023 season with St. Louis and appeared in 107 games, batting .244 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs.[31] He broke his thumb in September, ending his season early.[32] He spent time in left field, right field, first base, and as a designated hitter.[33]
In 2024, Burleson was an everyday player for the Cardinals, appearing in 152 games, leading the club with 78 RBIs while slashing .269/.314/.420.[34]
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