JJ Wetherholt is quickly emerging as one of the St. Louis Cardinals’ top prospects. A left-handed hitter who throws right-handed, Wetherholt stands 5′10″ and weighs 190 lbs. He was drafted by the Cardinals with the 7th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of college. Scouts praise his well-rounded skill set, which includes strong contact ability, solid power potential, plate discipline, speed, and versatility across multiple infield positions.
2025 Season Highlights
In 2025, Wetherholt split time between Double-A and Triple-A, delivering impressive numbers that underline his potential to succeed at higher levels of professional baseball. Here’s a look at his stats from the season:
- Batting average (AVG): .306
- On-base percentage (OBP): .421
- Slugging percentage (SLG): .510
- OPS: .931
- Home runs (HR): 17
- Doubles: 28
- Triples: 2
- Runs Batted In (RBI): 59
- Stolen bases (SB): 23
- Runs scored: 82 (across 109 games)
This performance demonstrates a rare combination of hitting for average, drawing walks, producing power, and contributing on the basepaths — exactly the kind of multi-tool profile that excites scouts and fans alike.
In recognition of his standout season, Wetherholt was named the Cardinals’ 2025 Minor League Player of the Year, a testament to his consistency, growth, and ability to perform against advanced pitching.
Positional Versatility
While primarily a shortstop, Wetherholt also logged time at second and third base throughout the season. This versatility increases his value and improves his path to the major leagues, giving the Cardinals flexibility in how they deploy him at the highest level.
What Makes Wetherholt a Prospect to Watch
Wetherholt’s combination of contact, selectivity, occasional power, and speed makes him a well-rounded offensive threat. His ability to handle Double-A and Triple-A pitching at just 20 years old suggests he could break into the majors as soon as 2026.
For fans and analysts, he represents a young player with the potential to become a core contributor for the Cardinals. His balanced skill set and proven results at multiple minor league levels make him an exciting player to follow heading into the next season.
Final Thoughts
JJ Wetherholt has established himself as a top prospect in the Cardinals’ system with a 2025 season that demonstrated both skill and consistency. With his combination of offensive talent, defensive versatility, and speed, he’s one of the organization’s brightest young talents.
JJ Wetherholt had a breakout 2025 season, hitting .306 with a .421 on-base percentage and .510 slugging, adding 17 home runs, 28 doubles, and 23 stolen bases across Double-A and Triple-A. His combination of contact, power, speed, and positional versatility puts him on a fast track to the majors, and many project he could make his MLB debut as early as 2026.
Fans and scouts alike will be keeping a close eye on Wetherholt as he continues his climb through the minors — a player who could make a big impact in the majors sooner rather than later.
