JJ Wetherholt has had several spectacular moments so far in his rookie season for the St. Louis Cardinals. However, the dynamic second baseman is far from satisfied and feels he has plenty more to offer.
Though most MLB analysts have him at the top of their National League Rookie of the Year rankings, Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt isn’t completely happy – and definitely not satisfied – with what he’s been able to show in his first MLB season.
The 23-year-old standout couldn’t have started his MLB career much better after homering in his MLB debut and delivering a walk-off winner in his second game. He recorded the first multi-homer game of his career on April 14 to spark a come-from-behind win over the Guardians and he showed just how good he can be in the clutch by smashing a game-tying homer against his boyhood team, the Pirates, in the ninth inning of another win in Pittsburgh on April 27. And them came one of Wetherholt’s favorite moments – when he flew around the bases on a “Little League Grand Slam” – when Padres’ star Fernando Tatis failed to get a glove on his single to right field.
Still, Wetherholt often thinks more about his shortcomings than his highs from this first season – something he’s working on trying to stop so that he doesn’t obsess over the game so much that it takes over his life away from the diamond. Even though most consider Wetherholt to be the likely winner of the NL Rookie of the Year award by season’s end, some might be shocked by the grade Wetherholt gave himself when asked to grade his first 52 games as a Cardinals standout.
“It can be a sport where you overanalyze it and even over-compare sometimes and you end up never happy with where you are,” Wetherholt told Roundtable Sports in an exclusive. “That’s something I’m always battling with and trying to not do so much of. I never want to be satisfied and I’m always trying to get better, but I’m in the big leagues and I’ve shown flashes of what I can do. Now, I need to be a lot more consistent.
“I haven’t barreled as much stuff as I’d like. I’ve shown some good stuff defensively and shown some good stuff running the bases. So, overall, I’d probably give myself a B and try to always hold myself to a higher standard. I just want to try to get better every day.”
Wetherholt, the top prospect in the Cardinals’ organization from the time he was drafted No. 7 in the 2024 MLB Draft until his MLB promotion, has already shown off his massive potential this season. Among all MLB rookies, he ranks second in runs scored (36), fifth in hits (47), fourth in homers (nine), fourth in walks (28), seventh on RBI (25), sixth in on-base percentage (,353) and 10th in OPS (.746).
Those numbers have taken a bit of a dive of late as Wetherholt has hit a snag in the month of May. Having faced MLB teams for the first time in his career in March and April, Wetherholt is now being pressed into making adjustments as he starts to face many of those same teams a second time. In May, he’s hit just .202 with 19 strikeouts and those struggles have come as many others in the lineup have struggled as well. Of late, he’s seen a shift in how teams are attacking him in an effort to keep him in check.
“I think guys are just mixing me pretty differently depending on what the pitchers' strengths are,” Wetherholt analyzed. “For me, it’s about taking away their fastballs, and I’ve been getting less and less of those these days. I’m trying to make the adjustment to having simpler thoughts so that I can hit more line drives off their spin. So, that’s what I’ve been working on.”
Wetherholt said he knows his swing is dialed in when he is hitting balls hard back through the middle of the field and to the opposite way. He demonstrated that again on May 19 when he hit a low-and-in changeup from Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller 402 feet to left-center for his ninth homer of the season.
“He stays on it really and it’s hard to leave the park here at Busch from the left side to where he hit it (on May 19),” Cardinals’ manager Oliver Marmol marveled. “That’s one of his strengths – stayin on the baseball and hitting it that way. One of his first homers in Spring Training came when he stood up on one that way. His first at bat – when he lined out (to left) – gave you an indication of how he was feeling that day. He definitely has that ability and it’s a skill that’s not easily taught.”
Added Wetherholt: “That was a really good swing. I’ve been trying to do that the whole year, but I haven’t been as good at that as I’ve wanted to be. I want more of those (opposite-field homers) because that’s when I know I’m in a good spot. I’m trying to continue to work on that as the season goes along.”
Wetherholt has shined defensively so far
One area where Wetherholt has had consistency is with his stellar defense at second base. He’s made several spectacular plays while ranging to his left and has shown steady improvement while back-handing balls hit up the middle. Also, the chemistry between he and Gold Glove shortstop Masyn Winn has been strong from the start and Wetherholt has already been a part of 31 double plays with making just two errors in 220 total chances defensively.
He has an Outs Above Average rating of plus-8, one that is good for seventh overall in MLB and third among all second basemen. In terms of Fielding Bible’s Defensive Runs Saved, Wetherholt’s plus-8 rating ranks ninth in MLB and second among second basemen.
Like with his overall game so far in his rookie season, Wetherholt has been pleased, but he’s hardly satisfied.
“I’ve been able to make some plays, and really any way that I can impact the team, that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m always looking for ways to have an impact on this team. I’ve been able to do that, but I’ve got to keep working hard to help the team as much as I can.”
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