The Cardinals selected JJ Wetherholt with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, and he’s making a strong case for a September call-up after tearing through Triple-A.
The former West Virginia standout earned Big 12 Player of the Year honors as a sophomore in 2023. Now he’s showing that college success translates.
After starting 2025 in Double-A, Wetherholt got promoted to Triple-A in early July. He’s made the jump look easy.
Through 27 games at Triple-A, he’s hitting .295/.387/.638 with seven doubles, nine home runs, 17 RBIs, and three stolen bases. That’s the kind of production St. Louis could use right now.
Cardinals fans aren’t the only ones wanting to see Wetherholt in the majors. MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger made his case on air, according to Sports Illustrated.
“Power from the left side. You need a second baseman. Brendan Donovan injured his hamstring on the IL. Look at the numbers. Hitting .303 with 16 bombs, 64 runs scored. On-base percentage at .419. He is a shot in the arm. You’re hovering around .500, you need a spark. Bring up JJ Wetherholt for your September call-up.”
Amsinger’s timing makes sense. September call-ups let teams give prospects a taste of the big leagues while keeping their rookie eligibility intact. Stay under 45 days of service time, and you preserve both rookie status and an extra year of control.
The Cardinals are sitting right around .500 and could use that spark Amsinger mentioned. Donovan’s hamstring injury creates an opening at second base.
What makes this different is Wetherholt’s rapid ascent through the system. Going from the draft to Triple-A in just over a year shows the organization believes in his tools.
There’s always injury risk with any call-up, but the upside seems worth it. The way I see it, if he’s dominating Triple-A pitching, why not see what he can do against major league arms?
It’ll be interesting to see if the Cardinals pull the trigger as September approaches. All signs point to a prospect who’s ready for his next challenge.
