Top prospect JJ Wetherholt earns Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year
The No. 6-ranked MLB prospect and top-ranked prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals organization JJ Wetherholt, lived up to the hype, as he was named the Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America on Monday.
In his first full season in the minors, Wetherholt flashed the big league potential that West Virginia baseball fans witnessed during his three years in Morgantown.
Wetherholt played 109 games across two teams: the Springfield Cardinals (AA) and the Memphis Redbirds (AAA). In 408 at-bats, he totaled a .307/.420/.554 slash line along with 17 home runs, 59 RBI’s, 28 doubles and a .934 OPS.
The organization scattered Wetherholt around the infield, working a .969 fielding percentage. Most of his innings were logged at shortstop at 61 games (526.1 innings). He also had 20 games at second base (167 innings), where he did not commit an error in 84 chances. At the hot corner, he saw 12 games (111.2 innings). And was also the designated hitter for nine games.
Based on his fielding performance, Wetherholt likely projects as a second baseman with rising star Mason Winn holding down shortstop for the Cardinals the last 2 ½ seasons.
Based on the time frame of his promotion from AA to AAA, it was likely the organization’s plan for Wetherholt to see as many high-level at-bats as possible ahead of the 2026 season.
He started the season in Springfield, where he stayed for three months (62) games. He slashed .300/.425/.466 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs. After going hitless in his first four games, he saw four consecutive multi-hit games to set his average at .313. After that run, his average never dipped below .275 in AA.
On July 7, Wetherholt was promoted to AAA Memphis, making an immediate impact. In his debut on July 9, he totaled seven bases with a home run and two singles.
A few days later, on July 12, he represented the National League in MLB’s All-Star Futures Game. He hit leadoff for the NL and crushed an opposite-field double off the wall in his first at-bat, earning the respect of MLB Hall of Famer Chipper Jones, who managed the NL team.
“This kid’s a player. That’s why I wanted him at the top of the lineup,” Jones said as Wetherholt stood on second base. “I think you’re going to see him starting in St. Louis pretty soon.”
In the game, he started as the designated hitter and entered at second base in the sixth inning.
Through August, Wetherholt was scorching hot, slashing .331/.434/.544 with four home runs and seven doubles in 90 plate appearances.
He finished his AAA campaign with a .314 batting average, 10 home runs, 14 doubles and 25 RBI’s.
With a successful full season in the minor leagues, it should not be long before Wetherholt is making an impact in St. Louis.
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