MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – On Sunday night, MLB.TV and the MLB app gave fans a free look at St. Louis Cardinals top prospect JJ Wetherholt as he suited up for the Double-A Springfield Cardinals against the Corpus Christi Hooks at Hammons Field.
Wetherholt notched a hit in Springfield’s 3-1 win and is now sporting a .321 batting average with a .910 OPS over 52 games. He leads the team with 13 doubles, has hit four homers, and impressively walked 38 times eight more than his 30 strikeouts. The talented shortstop has notched at least one hit in 10 of 12 games this month, including eight multi-hit performances.
Two weeks removed from being named to MLB Pipeline’s Prospect Team of the Week, Wetherholt last year’s seventh overall MLB Draft pick is giving the Cardinals front office something to think about.
Per MLB.com’s Sam Dykstra, Jim Callis, and Jonathan Mayo, Wetherholt’s promotion to Triple-A Memphis appears inevitable.
“Last year’s No. 7 pick entered pro ball with massive expectations, especially with his hitting ability,” they wrote. “He’s proving why with a .475/.588/.700 slash line over his last 11 Double-A games. That’s raised his season average to .322 fourth-best in all of Double-A and his OBP to .443, highest among qualifiers. We’ve seen other 2024 first-rounders reach the majors already. Given how well Wetherholt is performing, a promotion to Triple-A soon makes sense.”
In comparison, Jac Caglianone, drafted one spot ahead of Wetherholt, was recently called up by the Royals, while Christian Moore last year’s No. 8 pick was promoted by the Angels. Currently, MLB.com ranks Wetherholt as the 18th-best prospect in baseball.
“This season has been incredible,” Wetherholt texted through West Virginia coach Steve Sabins. “It’s been a blast adjusting to the professional game.”
Cardinals fan sites agree Wetherholt is ready for the next level.
“St. Louis has sometimes rushed prospects in the past,” Andrew Parker of Redbird Rants wrote, “but Wetherholt’s performance makes a Triple-A move feel more like a necessity than a gamble. He was already considered one of the most polished college hitters coming into the draft, and he’s only backed that up since joining the Cardinals.”
Another fan site added:
“At just 22, he impressed in spring training and continues to shine. If you’re discouraged by the Cardinals’ season, go watch Wetherholt’s highlights. He’s the real deal and if his hot streak continues, don’t be surprised if he’s in the majors by 2026.”
Wetherholt’s 2023 season at West Virginia ranks among the most impressive college campaigns in recent memory. That year, he became the first player since 2002 to post 40 extra-base hits and 35 stolen bases in the same season. His .449 batting average was the highest by a major-conference player since Florida State’s Buster Posey hit .463 in 2008. Wetherholt earned Big 12 Player of the Year honors and was a consensus All-American.
“WVU gave me the tools to pursue my MLB dream,” Wetherholt said. “I learned to manage sleep, nutrition, strength, conditioning, and mental focus things that are crucial to growing as a professional. I’ll always be thankful for my time in Morgantown. It made this transition so much easier.”
A hamstring injury limited his 2023 season, likely affecting his draft position, though he was once considered a potential No. 1 overall pick.
Now, Wetherholt is inching closer to joining the Cardinals’ major league roster, where he could eventually reunite with fellow West Virginia alum Victor Scott II, currently St. Louis’s starting centerfielder.
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