ST. LOUIS — For Cardinals top prospect JJ Wetherholt, keeping the main thing as the main thing has been the entirety of his focus this winter as he prepares for a Spring Training that could ultimately vault him to the big leagues.
Wetherholt, MLB’s No. 5 overall prospect, noted on Day 2 of the Cardinals Winter Warm-Up festivities that he’s had to remind himself to keep his attention on the things that helped him get to the doorstep of the big leagues instead of obsessing over whatever deficiencies are in his game. For example, Wetherholt was often told early in his pro career more about his flaws — specifically, his lack of pull-side homers — more than his unique gift of being able to drive the ball to all fields for doubles and triples.
“’Fight’ could be, could not be, the right word,” Wetherholt said of wanting to stick to the smooth, easy swing that made him the No. 7 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. “When I got drafted into the organization, there was not a lot of talk about how well I hit the ball the other way and a lot of talk about how not good I hit the ball to the pull side. When you’re faced with that the first time, it’s like, ‘Shoot, I just came off hitting .450 in college, and you’re going to talk about how bad I am at hitting?’
“For me, that was a little bit of a culture shock, and it was something I had to address, because there is room for me to grow. … You’ll hear big leaguers say you need to focus on what you’re good at. … I’ve had to understand, ‘Yeah, there’s room to grow, but that doesn’t mean that needs to be my full-on focus.’ It’s a dangerous game to be focusing on what doesn’t make you good. So, maybe ‘fight’ is the right term.”
The Cardinals, who named Wetherholt their Minor League Player of the Year for 2025, like the fight they have seen from the 23-year-old infielder, who is capable of playing second base, third base and shortstop. In 109 games split between Double-A and Triple-A, Wetherholt slashed .306/.421/.510/.931 with 28 doubles, 17 homers and 59 RBIs. He mixed his surprising pop (four leadoff homers) with his speed (23 stolen bases in 26 tries) to show why he is one of the Cards’ most promising prospects in years.
“Everybody knows about him on the offensive side. That’s going to be an explosion for us, and I think it’s going to spark this club,” said Masyn Winn, who has been working out this winter at the same facility in Jupiter, Fla. “I’m excited to play with him whether he’s at third or second. And I’m excited to see him swing [the bat] in person because all I’ve heard from my boys down in Triple-A is that the dude rakes.”
Wetherholt’s potential is so enormous that the Cardinals have held extensive talks about trading Brendan Donovan, the club’s lone All-Star in 2025. New president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom has been adamant that Wetherholt will be given every shot in Spring Training of making the Opening Day roster.
Meanwhile, manager Oliver Marmol, who was impressed with Wetherholt’s comfort under pressure in his 2025 Spring Training debut, is eager to test the versatile infielder in other ways.
“His mindset, in my opinion, will allow him to excel [at second base, third or shortstop], because it’s a special mindset and one that I continue to be impressed with,” Marmol said. “There’s a quiet confidence to him that is rare with young players. It’s different, it’s pretty special, and I’m looking forward to seeing it on a daily basis. We saw some of it in spring [of 2025]. The way he carried himself, being around big league guys and big league staff the first time showed what he’s all about.”
What Wetherholt is all about now is focusing on his strengths to show the Cardinals that he is ready to thrive in the big leagues. After a winter spent working around several established MLB veterans, Wetherholt is eager to prove that his hitting ability — especially hitting to all fields — will translate to the game’s highest level. Whereas he often tiptoed around veterans Nolan Arenado and Sonny Gray in camp in 2025, Wetherholt is approaching this Spring Training as a launching pad for his career.
“It’s completely different now; last year was to have the experience, and this year it’s to make the team,” Wetherholt said. “Simply put, [making the team] is what I’m trying to do, and everything is going to look different. This year, I’m trying to make a team and continue those relationships I built.”
