JUPITER, Fla. -- It took four games for JJ Wetherholt to get his first hit of the spring, but when it finally came, it went a long, long way.
Wetherholt launched a home run against Mets closer Devin Williams to lead off the fourth inning of Friday afternoon's Grapefruit League contest, crushing an 89.1 mph cutter over the center-field wall. The ball came off the bat at 105.4 mph, traveling a projected 422 feet.
It marked the first hit, home run and RBI in nine plate appearances this spring for Wetherholt, who started as the Cardinals’ designated hitter Friday but is projected to be St. Louis’ starting second baseman this season. The seventh pick in the 2024 Draft and No. 5 overall prospect in the game according to MLB Pipeline, Wetherholt is in his second big league camp, having hit only .100 (2-for-20) with one homer in 10 games last spring.