ST. LOUIS – Cardinals top prospect JJ Wetherholt has had plenty of success starting games with a bang since his promotion to Triple-A Memphis, but he says his swing is better suited to keeping pitchers and defenses guessing with his ability to spray the ball to all fields.
Wetherholt, MLB Pipeline's No. 6 prospect, opened Memphis’ game in Charlotte on Friday with a leadoff home run for the fifth time since he was promoted on July 7. Wetherholt smashed former MLB pitcher Mike Clevinger's 95 mph fastball for a 334-foot home run in Memphis’ 7-5 victory.
While the 2024 first-round pick has enjoyed the power surge over the past six weeks, Wetherholt said the swing that will give him the most long-term success is when he drives the ball the other way.
“The biggest adjustment [from Double-A to Triple-A] is being able to hit the mistake,” said Wetherholt, who has slashed .297/.394/.648 with eight homers, six doubles and 15 RBIs in 24 games at Triple-A. “You get one good pitch an at-bat. When you get that pitch, you got to hit it.
“My hitting profile isn't where the flash is coming from homers. It's been great lately, but I need to be more consistent in the barrel and using the whole field. I'm usually good at controlling the left-center gap, and that's something that has been hit or miss lately. I want to get back to using the whole field and get back to being a threat to the pitchers -- not because I might hit a leadoff homer, but because I might hit a double on every pitch.”
Wetherholt, the Cardinals Minor League Player of the Month for July, has successfully adapted at the plate, but he says he is still a work in progress defensively as he has bounced around the infield. At Double-A Springfield, Wetherholt made 17 starts at second (46 assists, zero errors) and 36 starts at shortstop (89 assists, six errors).
At Memphis, he’s made 14 starts at shortstop (28 assists, two errors), but he’s recently seen more time at third, where he started on Friday. In four starts at third -- a new position to the 22-year-old infielder at the professional level -- Wetherholt has racked up eight assists and two double plays with one error.
“I haven't played [third] since my freshman year in college, so it's going to take a little bit to get back to the swing of it there,” he said. “I’ve been working there for the past probably four or five weeks. I don't know entirely what the goal is, but I think we're probably going to be about two games a week [at third] from here on out. I'm getting more comfortable as the game goes. I’m definitely going to need a bunch of in-game reps.”
Could a Cardinals club that has been without veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado (right shoulder strain) for the past two weeks be preparing Wetherholt for an MLB promotion and time at third? Masyn Winn, a leading candidate to win the National League’s Gold Glove award at shortstop in 2025, was promoted from Triple-A Memphis to the Cardinals on Aug. 18, 2023, and he raved about how the experience helped him get better prepared for his full rookie season in 2024.
Wetherholt is familiar with Winn’s story, but he prefers to keep his focus on Triple-A and his desire to improve his game.
“I’m just trying to get better and whatever happens, happens,” Wetherholt said. “It’s not my decision and it’s not something I’m focused on; I’m focused on getting better, learning different positions, learning how to hit and being more consistent and continue to develop as a player. That’s where my head’s at now.”
Asked what position Wetherholt thinks he profiles the best at in the bigs, he said that decision will be left up to others. Still, he thinks with the proper reps, he can handle any spot on the infield.
“The nature of second is it's just a less demanding position, and I'm really confident over there,” he said. “I'm confident at shortstop with all the work that we put in, and third base is just going to continue to grow as we play.
“I definitely have the tool set to be able to play all of it. I don't know entirely where I would project out [position-wise in MLB], but I'm pretty confident in my defensive abilities and think I could honestly play anywhere.”