St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt: Rising Star or Missed Opportunity?

St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt: Rising Star or Missed Opportunity?

The St. Louis Cardinals have their sights set on a bright future, in large part due to the talent in their farm system. One player turning heads is JJ Wetherholt, currently a top prospect making waves at Triple-A Memphis. As of today, August 24, 2025, Wetherholt is recognized among the top five prospects in all of baseball, showcasing potential that’s hard to ignore. Recently, he demonstrated his abilities with an impressive 3-for-4 performance, including two doubles, against veteran pitcher Chris Sale, who was on a rehab assignment for the Atlanta Braves, as Redbird Rants reports.

Sporting a remarkable .316 batting average and .406 on-base percentage, Wetherholt has catapulted to a .650 slugging percentage and a staggering 1.056 OPS in just 117 at-bats with the Redbirds. His resume continues to dazzle fans, having previously earned accolades at Double-A, where he was voted as the Best Batting Prospect, Most Exciting Player, and for Best Strike-Zone Judgement. His “superpower” lies in his ability to make astute swing decisions, a skill that could reshape the Cardinals’ offense.

The Call-Up: Hopes and Doubts

The discussion around Wetherholt’s potential call-up to the big leagues has heated up, especially with the Cardinals vying for an NL Wild Card spot. However, Cardinals GM John Mozeliak recently cast some doubt on this possibility. In interviews, he indicated that while a call-up would be exciting, it may not align with the best interests of the organization now. There are whispers around the league regarding the decision to hold him back, as he’s protected from the Rule 5 Draft until 2028, meaning there’s no urgent need to place him on the 40-man roster this offseason, as noted by HailWV.

Despite Mozeliak’s cautious note, fans remain hopeful as Wetherholt continues to impress this season. He has posted a .310/.403/.640 slash line with nine home runs and 17 RBIs over 26 games, showcasing significant improvement over his AA stats where he had seven home runs in 62 games. Many are holding their breaths amid rumors swirling about the organization’s decisions, yet there’s a palpable excitement around his eventual promotion.

A Glimpse at the Future

The optimism doesn’t stop with Wetherholt. The Cardinals have been proactive in bolstering their ranks with fresh talent. They used their recent high draft picks effectively, securing two dynamic prospects now leading their Minor League system. Both have made a substantial impact, further heightening expectations for the future of the team.

Remarkably, Wetherholt, who was the NCAA batting champion in 2023, lit the path with his achievements and continues to be a player to watch. The Cardinals‘ Minor League system, benefitting from significant investments, features a promising roster of young players. Alongside Wetherholt, new faces include Liam Doyle, who is already training at the Cardinals’ Spring Training headquarters in Jupiter, Florida, and top drafts like Ryan Mitchell and Nate Dohm. The energy surrounding Wetherholt and his peers has Major League scouts taking note, with MLB Pipeline reevaluating the Cardinals’ prospects and predicting that players like Wetherholt could soon make a significant impact on the big leagues

With such talent in store, fans and team members alike can hardly contain their excitement about what lies ahead. As they navigate this pivotal moment in the season, all eyes will remain trained on JJ Wetherholt and the role he may eventually play in the Cardinals‘ quest for success.