Top Cardinals prospect JJ Wetherholt, former Mars and WVU baseball standout, makes opening day roster
JUPITER, Fla. — JJ Wetherholt is heading to the majors.
Cardinals director of baseball operations Chaim Bloom told reporters Monday Wetherholt, the seventh pick in the 2024 amateur draft out of West Virginia, will be on the opening day roster.
The 23-year-old shortstop, who starred at Mars before committing to WVU, hit .212 with two home runs and seven RBIs this spring for St. Louis. He played for the Planets for two seasons with Will Bednar, a San Francisco Giants farm system relief pitcher and the younger brother of New York Yankees closer David Bednar.
“He came into his own that sophomore year at WVU,” Mars baseball coach Jason Thompson told the Butler Eagle earlier this month. “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.”
The Cardinals open the season Wednesday afternoon at the Cincinnati Reds. Wetherholt and St. Louis will make their first trip to Pittsburgh to face the Pirates April 27-30. He won’t return to the Steel City until Sept. 22-24.
Wetherholt is coming off a strong 2025 in which he hit a combined .306 with 19 home runs, 79 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 138 games split between Double-A and Triple-A.
He’s considered one of MLB’s top prospects along with fellow 2024 pick Konnor Griffin, who did not make the Pittsburgh Pirates’ opening day roster this year as a 19-year-old but is expected to be called up sometime this season.
The Cards traded Masyn Winn in the offseason, seemingly to open the path for Wetherholt to win a starting job with the big club.
Bloom also said the Cardinals will take infielders Jose Fermin and Thomas Saggese and outfielder Nathan Church with them to St. Louis for Thursday's season opener against Tampa Bay.
Butler Eagle sports editor Jake Merda Adams contributed to this report.
