JJ Wetherholt Goes Yard in MLB Debut; Victor Scott Steals Bases

Making his MLB debut on Opening Day 2026, JJ Wetherholt went yard for his first hit and home run all in one.

The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-7 at Busch Stadium. The home run was crushed to center field and put the Cardinals’ first run on the board.

With another RBI later in the game, the former WVU star was 1-for-4 with a homer and two RBI.

Wetherholt earned the opportunity following a stellar spring and receiving national recognition all throughout last summer.

Fellow WVU baseball alum, Victor Scott was 3-for-4 and stole two bases on the day, making the Cardinals are a team for West Virginia fans to keep an eye on this season.

Based on his success in the minors and standing as a top prospect, Wetherholt is predicted to win the National League Rookie of the Year.

Wetherholt played in both Double-A and Triple-A throughout 2025. Across both levels, Wetherholt hit 28 doubles, 17 home runs, 59 RBI, and stole 23 bases. He was named the St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Player of the Month in July.

Wetherholt made an impact during his three seasons with the Mountaineers from 2022 to 2024.  With West Virginia, Wetherholt hit 29 total home runs, 129 RBI, stole 57 bases, and had an overall batting average of .370. He was named the Big 12 Conference Baseball Player of the Year in 2022.

Find more coverage of JJ Wetherholt at WV Sports Now.