JJ Wetherholt Rockets Up Prospect Rankings as Cardinals Fans Eye MLB Debut
There’s hype, and then there’s JJ Wetherholt. There is no hyperbole here.
The St. Louis Cardinals’ 2024 first-round pick is officially one of the hottest names in minor league baseball. And now, he’s being called one of the very best. The Athletic’s Keith Law just ranked Wetherholt as the No. 3 prospect in all of MLB, trailing only Tigers youngsters Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark.
That puts Wetherholt in elite company — names like J.D. Drew, Oscar Taveras, Alex Reyes, and Jordan Walker are some of the only other Cardinals prospects to sniff that kind of ranking.
So what’s fueling the hype around Wetherholt?
In a word: production.
After a recent promotion to Triple-A Memphis, Wetherholt has exploded out of the gate, launching two home runs last night to lift his slash line to .379/.455/.966 (1.421 OPS) in just 29 at-bats at the highest level of the minors. Add that to his combined season stats across Double-A and Triple-A — .310/.429/.524, with 11 home runs, 29 extra-base hits, 48 walks, and only 45 strikeouts in 70 games — and you’ve got one of the most balanced and advanced bats in all of prospect-dom.
And he’s just 21.
A Star in the Making — But Not Yet a Call-Up
Law recently joined BK and Ferrario on 101 ESPN and labeled Wetherholt a “future superstar,” praising his advanced approach, elite pitch recognition, and ability to drive the ball to all fields. Some scouts believed he would’ve been the No. 1 overall pick in 2024 had it not been for a hamstring injury in his final year at West Virginia — an injury that caused him to slide to the Cardinals at No. 7.
Other teams’ hesitation is now St. Louis’ jackpot.
But here’s the reality check: not so fast.
While Wetherholt’s bat is smoking hot, much of the damage has come against non-big-league-caliber pitching — think high-80s fastballs and hanging breaking balls in hitter-friendly counts. As Josh Jacobs (@joshjaco98) and others have pointed out, we’re seeing Wetherholt do what elite hitters should do to mistakes — crush them.
That’s not to diminish his success — it’s exactly the trait that sets great hitters apart — but it does raise the question: Has he really been tested yet?
Enjoy the Ride, But Watch for the Next Level
Wetherholt’s true “superpower” is his feel for the strike zone — his ability to spit on pitchers’ pitches and hunt damage. That’s what makes him so special. But if you’re wondering when he’ll make his MLB debut, the better question might be: when will he start facing pitchers who are actually trying to get him out like a big leaguer?
Triple-A is often more about development than execution — pitchers are working on new grips, testing sequences, trying to earn promotions. It’s not always a major league simulation. So while the numbers pop, the real test is still coming.
If Wetherholt continues this tear into mid-to-late August, it’s not out of the question to see him get a cup of coffee in St. Louis, much like Masyn Winn did in 2023. But for now, it’s OK to tap the brakes just a bit.
He’s on fire. He’s knocking on the door. And he looks like the real deal.
But for now? Let’s enjoy the ride — and let the Cardinals develop him the right way.
