JJ Wetherholt is so confident in his defense, he thinks he can play any position.
The buzz around JJ Wetherholt, the Cardinals’ top prospect, has mostly centered on his electric bat. But what about the glove? That’s where things get really interesting. Wetherholt has been tested all over the infield this season. The results show a young star who’s still a work in progress — but trending in the right direction.
At Double-A Springfield, Wetherholt split time between second base and shortstop. He looked sharp at second, racking up 46 assists with zero errors in 17 starts. Shortstop was a bit bumpier, with 89 assists and six errors over 36 starts. After his promotion to Triple-A, the Cardinals kept him at shortstop for 14 starts. Recently, they’ve been experimenting — slotting him at third base for the first time since college.
Calling up JJ Wetherholt would be perfect timing
And the timing couldn’t be more perfect. With Nolan Arenado sidelined for the past two weeks due to a right shoulder strain, the hot corner is suddenly an area of intrigue in St. Louis. The Cardinals’ top prospect admits he’s still shaking off the rust at third, but he’s putting in the reps and embracing the challenge.
“I haven’t played [third] since my freshman year in college, so it’s going to take a little bit to get back to the swing of it there,” Wetherholt told MLB.com’s John Denton. “I’ve been working there for the past probably four or five weeks. I don’t know entirely what the goal is, but I think we’re probably going to be about two games a week [at third] from here on out. I’m getting more comfortable as the game goes. I’m definitely going to need a bunch of in-game reps.”
That humility is balanced by confidence.
Wetherholt knows his future might not be locked into one position, and that’s just fine by him.
“I definitely have the tool set to be able to play all of it,” he said. “I don’t know entirely where I would project out [position-wise in MLB], but I’m pretty confident in my defensive abilities and think I could honestly play anywhere.”
So what does this mean for the Cardinals? It means they’ve got a top prospect who can handle multiple positions, giving them flexibility as they map out the future — especially if Arenado’s injury lingers or if trade rumors swirl again this winter. Wetherholt will never be Arenado with the glove (who is?). But the rookie’s adaptability could be a massive asset as St. Louis reloads for 2026.
For now, it’s about experience. Every start at third base adds another layer to Wetherholt’s development, and every inning on defense builds his case as more than just an elite bat. Fans already know the bat is real — the glove could be the thing that makes the Cardinals’ top prospect the total package.
