Where Does JJ Wetherholt Rank Among Top MLB Prospects?

JJ Wetherholt is already being recognized as one of the best prospects within MiLB. Wetherholt is currently ranked as the No. 19 prospect by MLB.com and the top player in the Cardinals’ system.

To this point in his minor league career with the Palm Beach Cardinals of Single A, the WVU product is hitting .265 with one home run and six RBI. He also has an OBP of .447 and a slug of .412.

Updated Top 100 List

#19 JJ Wetherholt
#51 Tink Hence
#86 Quinn Matthews#ForTheLou
https://t.co/y8TeRJVyfD

— STL Cardinals Nation (@stl_nation) August 14, 2024

The Cardinals selected Wetherholt with the seventh overall pick less than a month ago, making him the highest-selected player in WVU Baseball history in the process. The lefty-batting shortstop compiled a .370 batting average in 145 games in a Mountaineers’ uniform, slugging 29 home runs despite his measured approach at the plate and finishing at or near the top of most offensive categories on West Virginia’s all-time leaderboard.

While Mountaineers’ fans might be used to JJ Wetherholt the vocal leader, pounding his chest in imitation of the Planet of the Apes movie franchise after a big hit or defensive play, he told WV Sports Now that he’s needed to find new ways of  stepping up as a leader at the professional level.

Exclusive: JJ Wetherholt Gives Early Impressions of Pro Baseball

“It’s a little different, kinda gotta let some guys do their own things and what they’re comfortable doing, but you can still be the energetic, good teammate that’s trying to look out for his teammates and just hopes to win,” Wetherholt said.

“Players get ready on their own, they all do their own routine, it’s not as together oriented as college is. Everybody knows what they want to do before the game to get themselves in a good spot, and there’s a lot of trust from the coaches and the staff that you’re going to do so… then when the game starts you come together as a team and try to win. A little bit more relaxed, but it’s been a ton of fun.”

For a related story, West Virginia Sports Now spoke with JJ Wetherholt about his early impressions of professional baseball.