Cardinals Top Prospect Already Has St. Louis Buzzing With Excitement

JJ Wetherholt is poised to take over second base for the Cardinals after a blockbuster offseason trade.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

The St. Louis Cardinals made several major trades this offseason, including sending All-Star Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners. This move has cleared the way for top prospect JJ Wetherholt to step in and start at second base for the Cardinals. Wetherholt, known for his impressive bat-to-ball skills, game power, and speed, has St. Louis fans buzzing with excitement ahead of the upcoming season.

Why it matters

The Cardinals' willingness to trade away an established All-Star player like Donovan demonstrates their confidence in Wetherholt's ability to contribute at the major league level. Wetherholt's potential to impact the game in multiple ways has raised high expectations for the young infielder in St. Louis.

The details

Wetherholt, who has yet to make his MLB debut, is expected to take over as the Cardinals' starting second baseman this season. The 23-year-old prospect impressed at the Triple-A level last year, and the Cardinals are now ready to give him an opportunity to prove himself at the big-league level.

  • The Cardinals made several blockbuster trades this offseason, including sending Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners.
  • Wetherholt is expected to compete for the starting second base job during spring training.

The players

JJ Wetherholt

A top prospect in the Cardinals' farm system, known for his impressive bat-to-ball skills, game power, and speed.

Brendan Donovan

An All-Star player who was traded by the Cardinals to the Seattle Mariners this offseason, clearing the way for Wetherholt to take over at second base.

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What’s next

Wetherholt will compete for the starting second base job during spring training, and the Cardinals will closely monitor his development to ensure he is ready for the big-league level.

The takeaway

The Cardinals' willingness to trade away an established All-Star player like Donovan demonstrates their confidence in Wetherholt's ability to contribute at the major league level. Wetherholt's potential to impact the game in multiple ways has raised high expectations for the young infielder in St. Louis.