The Future Looks Bright for the St. Louis Cardinals with Top Prospect JJ Wetherholt
The St. Louis Cardinals are currently sitting just one game below .500, but their focus for the remainder of the season is on the future. All eyes are on their top prospect, JJ Wetherholt, as he continues to impress since his promotion to Triple-A Memphis. Wetherholt, who is also ranked as the No. 16 prospect in all of baseball by MLB, has been a standout player in the Cardinals’ system since being drafted seventh overall last July. At just 22 years old and a graduate of West Virginia University, Wetherholt has already shown immense potential and is poised to make a big impact for the Cardinals in the near future.
The Future is Now: Cardinals’ Top Prospect JJ Wetherholt Shines in Triple-A
The St. Louis Cardinals may be sitting a game below .500, but all eyes are on their top prospect, JJ Wetherholt, as they look towards the future. With two months left in the season, Wetherholt has been making waves since his promotion to Triple-A Memphis.
Ranked as the No. 16 prospect in all of baseball by MLB, Wetherholt has been excelling at the plate. In just 16 games, he boasts an impressive .344 batting average, six home runs, and a 1.179 OPS. Even more impressive, he has only struck out eight times in 61 at-bats and has even stolen a couple of bases.
The 22-year-old, who played college ball at West Virginia University, has been in the Cardinals’ system for just over a year. He was drafted seventh overall by St. Louis last July and played 29 games in A-ball before starting this season in Double-A. In 62 games with Double-A Springfield, he hit .300 with seven home runs, earning him his recent call-up to Triple-A.
Primarily an infielder, Wetherholt has seen the most action at shortstop, but has also played second base and third base in college. With the Cardinals’ middle infield locked in with Brendan Donovan and Masyn Winn, it’s unlikely that Wetherholt will see much playing time at those positions this season. However, with Nolan Arenado currently on the injured list with a right shoulder strain, Wetherholt has the opportunity to see consistent playing time at third base. In fact, he made his first professional start at third base on Sunday.
There is no set timeline for Arenado’s return, and with the Cardinals out of playoff contention, there is no need to rush him back. Plus, considering his struggles at the plate this season, it may be beneficial for the team to give Wetherholt a chance to prove himself at the major league level.
While the Cardinals have high hopes for Winn and Donovan in their future plans, they have also been trying to trade Arenado. If they are successful this offseason, Wetherholt could potentially step in as his replacement next season. However, if Arenado remains with the team, the Cardinals will have to find a different role for Wetherholt. Either way, it’s clear that Wetherholt is a key part of the Cardinals’ future plans.
