Knowing more information about his setup as Bogertophis asked can help us give you a better idea.
Behaviors in ball pythons can be very nuanced...and it can be difficult for new keepers to really ID what's going on. Burrowing can indeed be a sign of stress, but in this case, I don't quite think it is.
It sounds more like the actual 'door' to his hide and maybe the hide itself may be too big or open, so he made himself a comfortable little hideout. You can try putting some moss or crumpled paper inside to make it feel like a tighter space for now.
Being ambush hunters, him peeking his head out from there is actual a good sign. Typically that's the signal that they're going to be on the lookout for food to come by. So just make sure not to wiggle your fingers in front of him XD
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