The latest trend in professional baseball appears to have teams moving high-level prospects up the minor leagues as quickly as they can based on performance – which should bode well for a former WVU baseball legend who is now excelling at the Triple-A level just over a year after being drafted seventh overall in the 2024 MLB Draft.
In his first 15 games playing for the St. Louis Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate Memphis Redbirds, former Mountaineer JJ Wetherholt posting a .321/.412/.714 slash line, equating to a 1.126 OPS so far in his Triple-A career. In addition to his extraordinary slash line and OPS, Wetherholt started Sunday’s game going 3-3 with a home run in the first four innings of the game.
JJ Wetherholt continues to tear up Triple-A 😤
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 3, 2025
The @Cardinals' top prospect is 3-for-3 with a homer -- through four innings!
He's now batting .356 with a 1.217 OPS in 16 games with the @memphisredbirds. pic.twitter.com/wei1MxAn4x
The current top-rated Cardinals prospect according to MLB.com, is having an unheard of amount of success at the Triple-A level. Wetherholt was drafted just a little over a calendar year ago on July 14, 2024. Now, he is on the doorstep of the major leagues and getting more buzz behind a potential call-up.
Could a position change be on the way for the young Cardinals prospect?
Wetherholt has played three of the four infield spots at various times in his baseball career. However, Wetherholt made his first professional career start at third base recently. The start at third base may make Cardinals fans wonder if Weatherholt is going to be a replacement for Nolan Arenado. Arenado is one of the most decorated players in the league currently – a five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, a six-time Platinum Glove winner, and an eight-time All-Star.
Today's @topsbarbq leadoff batter is JJ Wetherholt!
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) August 3, 2025
Leadoff your day by texting REDBIRDS to 1 (833) 380-9855 for a free BBQ Pork Sandwich! pic.twitter.com/VwIrTTj8gF
Arenado has two years after this season left on his contract. But with the slugger having one of his worst offensive seasons, there are rumors that the Cardinals could be moving on from Arenado at the tail end of his career. If the Cardinals are interested in cutting ties with the established third baseman, Wetherholt might have an opportunity to get some reps at third base for the big-league squad.
Considering that Mason Wynn and Thomas Saggese are major league shortstops with major league experience at the position, that could lead to Wetherholt getting a position change, especially if St. Louis chooses to move on without Arenado.
With a surging Wetherholt banging on the door for the major leagues, how much longer do the Cardinals hold out on bringing up their top-ranked prospect? Could we see a September debut for the left-handed hitter? WVU and St. Louis fans alike will have to wait and see what happens.