Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt, former Mars High star, is one of MLB’s top prospects and ready for his breakout
ADAMS TWP — JJ Wetherholt can just plain hit.
Anywhere, apparently.
The 2021 Mars graduate has hit above .300 for every team he’s ever played for from his freshman year in high school until now. And the St. Louis Cardinals have taken notice.
St. Louis drafted Wetherholt, a West Virginia University shortstop, No. 7 overall in the 2024 amateur draft. Wetherholt led the NCAA with a .449 batting average as a college sophomore the year before.
While Masyn Winn, 23, took over as the Cardinals’ starting shortstop last season, the Redbirds dealt all-star second baseman Brendan Donovan to Seattle this past offseason. The move presumably cleared a path for Wetherholt, the No. 5 prospect according to MLB.com, to make the big league roster this spring.
“That’s what I immediately thought of when I saw they made that trade,” said Andy Bednar, who coached Wetherholt at Mars for two years.
And why not?
Between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis last year, Wetherholt, also 23, hit .306 with 17 homers, 59 RBI, 82 runs scored and 23 stolen bases in 109 games. He was named the Cardinals’ Minor League Player of the Year.
“He came into his own that sophomore year at WVU,” Mars baseball coach Jason Thompson said. “When you’re the NCAA hit leader, you’re going to attract attention.
“That kid is all about baseball. His bat has always been impressive. The big thing is JJ shines in pressure situations. He welcomes them. He wants to be the guy.”
Playing mostly second base in spring training this year, Wetherholt collected four hits in his first 12 Grapefruit League at-bats, including a home run and four RBIs.
He contributed mightily as a four-year starting shortstop for a Mars baseball program that’s reached the WPIAL playoffs 15 times in the past 16 years.
He’s returned to his hometown each December since leaving the area to participate in a baseball camp, talking to and instructing kids.
“It takes a lot of baseball knowledge and mental prowess to start at shortstop as a high school freshman,” Bednar said. “JJ became one our best players almost immediately.
“He and Will (Bednar, pitcher for the Giants) were teammates for two years here. JJ’s freshman year was Will’s junior year, and that was one of the best teams Mars ever had.”
Coach Bednar said seeing Wetherholt bat against Will in the major leagues “would be incredible. ... If JJ faced (Yankees pitcher) David (Bednar), for that matter. There could be three Mars graduates in the past 10 years or so playing simultaneously in the big leagues.”
That appears to be probable. While Will Bednar will likely begin the 2026 season in Triple-A, he may be called up to the Giants’ major league club at some point this year. Will and David faced each other for the first time in a professional setting when David’s Team USA scrimmaged Will’s Giants before the World Baseball Classic.
Wetherholt is already being mentioned as a possible National League Rookie of the Year candidate.
“Everyone considers Western Pa. to be all about football, but there’s been a WPIAL baseball player selected high in the draft in each of the past seven years,” Thompson pointed out. “JJ’s ascension is no surprise to me.”
His competition at second base with the Cardinals this year consists of Thomas Saggese (.258 in 82 games last year), Jose Fermin (.220 in 182 at bats over the last three years) and Ramon Urias, who hit 11 homers while batting .249 with Baltimore and Houston a year ago.
“JJ is either going to start at second base in St. Louis or he’s going back to Triple-A,“ Thompson said. ”He’s definitely going to be playing every day. Frankly, I don’t see how they can keep him down.“
Bednar agreed.
“One thing JJ’s doing in spring training ... he’s showing he belongs,” the Mars coach said.
The Cardinals did not make Wetherholt available to the Butler Eagle for this story.
