Alec Burleson took over the National League RBI lead on Sunday, September 13, 2026, reaching 109 runs batted in to pass Cincinnati Reds third baseman Sal Stewart. The St. Louis Cardinals outfielder now sits atop not just the NL leaderboard but leads all of Major League Baseball in RBI. With roughly three weeks left in the 2026 regular season, Burleson's total makes him the most productive run-producer in the sport — a number that commands attention in any pennant-race conversation.

Alec Burleson's 109 RBI: The Number in Full

109 RBI at any point in a season is a legitimate statement. It puts Burleson in elite company for any September, and the fact that he just crossed it while simultaneously dethroning the previous NL leader makes the number land harder. The margin over Stewart is slim — the data puts Burleson ahead by roughly 1.8 percent — but a lead is a lead, and right now it belongs to the Cardinals.

Burleson has been on the active roster since April 16, 2026, giving him a full season's worth of at-bats to build this total. He is not a rookie by any stretch — his rookie eligibility expired back in 2023 — so this is an established major leaguer doing this with a full understanding of what big-league pitching is going to throw at him late in a season.

How Burleson Got Here: The Context Behind the Crown

RBI totals are a cumulative stat, which means they reward two things above everything else: run-producing ability and opportunity. Getting to 109 means Burleson has consistently come through in situations where runners are on base — over and over, across six months of baseball. That kind of sustained production does not happen by accident.

The leaderboard flip came at the expense of Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds, who had previously held the NL's top spot. Stewart, a young Reds infielder, had been one of the more surprising offensive stories of the 2026 season. But Burleson has now moved past him, and the Cardinals will look to hold that gap — or widen it — through the final weeks of the regular season.

What Comes Next for Burleson and the Cardinals

The race is not over. A 1.8 percent margin is a thin cushion, and Stewart and any other NL contenders on the leaderboard will be pushing to reclaim the top spot. Burleson will need to keep producing in Cardinals lineups to protect — and ideally extend — his lead.

  • Burleson currently leads all of MLB with 109 RBI, not just the National League.
  • He overtook Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds to claim the top spot.
  • The margin over the runner-up is approximately 1.8 percent — a real but narrow lead.
  • Burleson has been active all season, on the roster since April 16, 2026.
  • Roughly three weeks remain in the 2026 regular season, leaving time for the leaderboard to shift again.

For Cardinals fans watching every game at Busch Stadium and on the road, Burleson's name at the top of the RBI leaderboard is a concrete, stat-sheet fact to point to. Whether he finishes there depends on what he does with the at-bats he has left. But on September 13, 2026, the RBI crown belongs to St. Louis.