Top prospect on Cards’ roster
The Cardinals promoted top prospect JJ Wetherholt to their Opening Day roster for 2026 — he’s listed as MLB’s No. 5 overall prospect and will be on the lineup from Day 1. (mlb.com).
Cardinals plan to start Wetherholt at second base and slot him leadoff or second behind shortstop Masyn Winn for Thursday’s season opener against the Tampa Bay Rays (3:15 p.m. CT). (mlb.com) (mlb.com) Wetherholt was the seventh overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of West Virginia University. (espn.com) (espn.com) Through 138 minor-league games across Low-A, Double-A and Triple-A he compiled a.304/.418/.487 slash line with 19 home runs and 25 stolen bases. (milb.com) (milb.com) He entered Grapefruit League play with a.780 OPS in 15 games, drawing nine walks (tied for the team lead) and driving in seven runs. (mlb.com) (mlb.com) The Associated Press/ESPN spring statline listed him at a.212 batting average with two home runs and seven RBIs this spring. (espn.com) (espn.com) Manager Oliver Marmol praised Wetherholt’s bat control—“He takes a professional at-bat”—and noted the infielder tightened up his backhand plays while learning second base during Grapefruit League action. (mlb.com) (mlb.com) Wetherholt was named the Cardinals’ 2025 Minor League Player of the Year and picked up Texas League MVP honors after his breakout season with Springfield. (milb.com) (milb.com)
