Top prospect JJ Wetherholt was added to the Cardinals Opening Day roster on Wednesday. However, Lars Nootbaar's start to the season likely won't come until at least June after he was put on the 60-day Injured List.
ST. LOUIS – As expected, top prospect JJ Wetherholt made the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster, and he will make his MLB debut on Thursday at Busch Stadium.
Also, as expected, outfielder Lars Nootbaar’s 2026 season with the Cardinals won’t start for several weeks following an offseason surgery on both of his heels.
The Cardinals officially added Wetherholt – universally considered to be one of MLB’s top prospects – to their roster on Wednesday before their workout at Busch Stadium. In the corresponding move, the Cards placed right-handed pitcher Hunter Dobbins on the 15-day Injured List (retroactive to March 22) so that he can continue the rehabilitation on his surgically repaired right knee at the Triple-A level.
Nootbaar, who had two surgical procedures to remove Haglund Deformities, was placed on the 60-day Injured List, meaning that his time with the Cardinals could be pushed to June. Nootbaar, 28, only recently began some light jogging and is thought to be weeks away from being allowed to resume full baseball activities.
Nootbaar strongly believes that the constant pain in his heels and legs played a major role in his struggles over the past two seasons. The veteran outfielder was limited to 109 games in 2024 because of rib, back and groin injuries. In 2025, he appeared in a career-most 135 games, but he cooled off after a solid start to the season. For the season, he slashed .234/.325/.381/.686 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI. He did walk 64 times, but he saw his strikeout totals soar to 119 in the 135 games.
Nathan Church is expected to start in left field on Opening Day against the Rays. Converted infielders Thomas Saggese and Jose Fermin are expected to see time in the outfield until Nootbaar returns.
Alec Burleson, who split time between the outfield and first base in 2025 while winning the Utility Silver Slugger award, is the projected starter at first base following the trading of Willson Contreras to the Red Sox.
Wetherholt, the No. 7 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, is a strong candidate to play second base and bat leadoff for the Cardinals in Thursday’s opener. Wetherholt could split time at shortstop, third base and second this season.
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