3 numbers that define JJ Wetherholt’s stellar first half

Not long after this year’s All-Star rosters were revealed on Saturday, Cardinals leadoff hitter JJ Wetherholt stepped into the batter's box at Wrigley Field, greeted by a chorus of boos and the allure of a nationally televised game.

Wetherholt couldn’t have looked any more composed.

Nothing seems to faze him. Not a hostile environment. Not the disappointment of missing out on All-Star honors. Not even the national spotlight.

Instead, Wetherholt calmly waggled his bat, chewed his gum and deposited the first pitch of Saturday’s game against the Cubs into the basket in left field.

That’s who he’s been since he got here.

As the All-Star break approaches, it’s hard not to marvel at how impactful Wetherholt has been during his rookie campaign. Even though he won’t be joining teammate Jordan Walker and manager Oliver Marmol on a flight to Philadelphia for the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, anyone who has watched Wetherholt play this season understands how much he has meant to the Cardinals.

Here are three numbers to help explain his standout first half:

1. 3.8 fWAR

There are plenty of ways to impact a baseball game, and Wetherholt has done so in just about every way imaginable.

Through 83 games, Wetherholt has been worth 3.8 fWAR, sixth best in the Majors and third best in the National League.

WAR is designed to measure a player's total value across offense, defense and baserunning compared to a replacement-level player. It’s not a perfect stat, but WAR leaders tend to line up with who are generally considered to be the best players in the sport, and Wetherholt has firmly placed himself in that conversation.

Offensively, Wetherholt has posted a .269/.364/.416 slash line entering Monday with 13 home runs, 36 RBIs and 54 runs scored. He’s been 20% above-MLB average by wRC+ at the plate, providing steady production at the top of the Cardinals’ lineup, and doing so as a rookie.

2. 18 OAA

So about that elite defense ...

Entering play Monday, Wetherholt led all defenders with 18 outs above average and he is on pace for 33 OAA on the season, which would be the second best mark by a defender since the stat started tracking in 2015.

Prefer defensive runs saved? Wetherholt’s 14 rank fifth in MLB.

More of a traditionalist? Wetherholt leads MLB in assists, ranks top 10 in double plays started, and has committed the fourth fewest errors (two) among all qualified second basemen.

Don’t put too much stock in the numbers? Just watch some of the many highlight-reel plays Wetherholt has made all season, and it becomes obvious how special he has been in the field.

3. +3 baserunning value

When quantifying baserunning, stolen bases are the easiest place to start.

Wetherholt’s nine are impressive, but a player’s impact on the bases goes far beyond just swiping bags. Turning singles into doubles, doubles into triples or taking the extra base when a teammate puts the ball in play all contribute to generating runs for your team.

Wetherholt has provided value in all of those facets this season, grading out with a +3 baserunning run value on the year, tied for 12th among all MLB players.

That number helps capture what the eye test confirms. When Wetherholt gets on base, he forces quicker decisions, creates mistakes and gives St. Louis another way to manufacture runs.