The Cardinals might have found their next breakout star, and **J.J. Wetherholt** is making it hard for the front office to ignore him.
**Wetherholt**, the team’s seventh overall pick from the 2024 draft, has been tearing through Triple-A Memphis since his promotion. He’s gone 8-for-16 with five extra-base hits in his brief time with the Red Birds, the kind of production that gets front offices thinking about September call-ups.
What makes this situation interesting is timing. The Cardinals are sitting fourth in the NL Central with one of the youngest rosters in baseball. That youth has contributed to their struggles staying above .500, but it’s also where the optimism comes from.
Before his Triple-A promotion on July 7, **Wetherholt** posted a **.300 average** with **seven homers** and **34 RBIs** across 62 games at Double-A Springfield. Those numbers suggest he’s ready for the next level, and so far, Triple-A hasn’t slowed him down.
The way I see it, this puts St. Louis in an interesting spot. They’ve got young arms like **Michael McGreevy** working their way through the system, and their recent high draft picks are starting to pay off. But success brings its own problems.
If Wetherholt keeps hitting like this, the Cardinals will face a roster crunch. Finding playing time for a prospect this promising might mean moving established players, especially with all the **Nolan Arenado** trade speculation floating around.
That’s actually where Wetherholt’s production becomes even more valuable. The Cardinals could use the offensive boost, particularly if they’re planning to retool around their younger core. A middle infielder who can hit .300 with pop would fit perfectly into that timeline.
All things considered, Wetherholt seems to be forcing the organization’s hand. The question isn’t whether he’ll get his shot at the majors – it’s when, and who moves out of the way to make room for him.
