Cardinals President of Baseball Operations hints that JJ Wetherholt may not join the Big Club until 2026
While many of the Cardinal faithful have written off 2026, St. Louis still has a reasonable shot at the Wild Card. Even former Savannah Bananas pitcher, Adam Wainwright thinks so. Those still holding out hope for a run at the Wild Card envision the organizations top prospect, JJ Wetherholt, potentially being the key to that run. Well… don’t start buying those “Wetherholt #1” jerseys just yet, because John Mozeliak might be about to rain on everyone’s parade.
Appearing on The Morning After on 101 ESPN, the Cardinals president of baseball operations made it sound like the team isn’t planning to call up the 22-year-old infielder when rosters expand. His reasoning? Basically, it’s not the “protection year” for the Rule 5 draft, and the club doesn’t want to use a 40-man spot just yet. Translation: the front office is thinking long-term roster chess, not short-term fan excitement.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for Cardinals fans, especially since Wetherholt has been raking in Triple-A Memphis — posting video-game numbers that scream “ready now.” The September schedule could get brutal for St. Louis, and with Nolan Arenado’s shoulder still a mystery, having Wetherholt in the mix could give the infield a serious jolt. Wether at third or second, the extra roster flexibility could shuffle guys like Brendan Donovan or Thomas Saggese into key spots more often.
What’s the downside, exactly?
Here’s the kicker — calling up Wetherholt in September wouldn’t burn his rookie eligibility for 2026. That means the Cards could still make him eligible for MLB’s Prospect Promotion Incentive (hello, extra draft pick) if he wins Rookie of the Year next season. In other words, there’s no real downside other than Mozeliak’s hesitation.
Of course, if Chaim Bloom — Mozeliak’s heir apparent — decides to flex some muscle and bring Wetherholt up anyway, it could be a sign that a new era is already underway in St. Louis. Fans have been itching for that changing of the guard, and a September debut for Wetherholt would be a major crowd-pleaser. But as of right now, John Mozeliak is the President of Baseball Operations (POBO) and he calls the shots.
So grab a beverage and the popcorn bucket and enjoy the waiting game. Will JJ Wetherholt light up Busch Stadium this September, or will fans have to keep dreaming until 2026? Or will he appear in 2025 and fizzle, similar to Masyn Winn in 2023? Stay tuned — this story isn’t done yet.
