The Cardinals have promoted top prospect JJ Wetherholt to Triple-A Memphis, the club announced on Monday.
The 22-year-old Wetherholt, newly ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 19 prospect in the game, was the Cardinals' first-round Draft pick (seventh overall) last season. Wetherholt played three college seasons at West Virginia, winning a Division I batting title in his sophomore season, when he hit .449.
The promotion to Triple-A comes after a strong season for the middle infielder at Double-A Springfield, where he hit .300 with seven homers, an .891 OPS and 14 stolen bases in 62 games. Since making his pro debut at Single-A Palm Beach last season, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Wetherholt has slashed .299/.419/.445 in 401 Minor League plate appearances.
Wetherholt also brings defensive versatility, as he's spent time at both second base and shortstop during his pro career. This season, he's played mostly short (36 games), but he has played second (17 games) quite a bit. He's also served as a designated hitter nine times.
Jason Foster is a reporter for MLB.com.