Prospect of the Arizona Cardinals dazzles spectators during thrilling Triple-A opening act
St. Louis Cardinals' Prospect JJ Wetherholt Shines in Triple-A Debut
JJ Wetherholt, the 22-year-old infielder drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024, is making waves in the minor leagues. After a swift progression through the ranks, Wetherholt recently made his Triple-A debut with Memphis.
In his first game, Wetherholt hit a homer that travelled an impressive 424 feet to center field, marking a strong start to his new chapter. He followed this up with a triple in his first at-bat, demonstrating his offensive prowess. Wetherholt's performance in his debut may have quelled concerns about being promoted too quickly.
Prior to his promotion, Wetherholt had already excelled in the lower minors during 2025. He mastered High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield, where he hit an even .300 with 7 homers, 34 RBIs, and 44 walks to 40 strikeouts in just 19 games or 86 plate appearances. His combined seven home runs between Springfield and Memphis led the entire Cardinals minor league system, highlighting his power potential.
Wetherholt's speed also shone in Double-A, where he recorded 14 stolen bases. His good contact skills are evident in his low strikeout rate of 15.1%. In his Triple-A debut, Wetherholt finished with a 2-for-4 performance, further showcasing his ability to compete at the highest minor league level.
The Cardinals' outfield is currently thin behind their major league players, and it is speculated that the organization may consider deploying Wetherholt in the outfield due to a potential logjam in the infield. However, JJ may be asked to focus on one position at a time, with the possibility of staying at shortstop until he gets his legs under him in Memphis.
As the St. Louis Cardinals' top prospect, Wetherholt’s strong performance in Triple-A Memphis places him on the fast track for a potential major league call-up. His progress through three levels in 2025 and his ability to produce at Triple-A suggest the organization views him as a near-term candidate for the major league roster once he continues to sustain this level of play.
The Cardinals have a surplus of MLB talent that hits from the left side, including JJ Wetherholt. However, there has not been much public discussion about Wetherholt playing in the outfield from the organization. The team may need to deal from their lefty depth to fill other holes on the roster.
In summary, JJ Wetherholt is performing very well post-promotion to Triple-A Memphis with impactful hitting and power. His status as the Cardinals' top prospect strongly indicates he will play a significant future role with St. Louis at the major league level. However, his potential deployment in the outfield remains to be seen.
In the Triple-A Memphis league, JJ Wetherholt continued to showcase his offensive skills with a 2-for-4 performance, demonstrating his potential to shine in the MLB. With his impressive home run and triple in his debut, Wetherholt's talent in baseball, particularly in the sport of baseball within the MLB, is clear.
