Cardinals' Top Prospect Wetherholt Compared to Diamondbacks All-Star

The 7th-ranked MLB prospect has been likened to Arizona's Geraldo Perdomo for his impressive tools and skills.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 6:47pm

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The St. Louis Cardinals have one of baseball's top overall prospects in JJ Wetherholt, who has been ranked 7th on multiple top-100 prospect lists. ESPN's Kiley McDaniel has compared Wetherholt's skillset to that of Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star Geraldo Perdomo, noting his solid-average raw power, above-average speed, and advanced baseball instincts that could make him a fan favorite in St. Louis.

Why it matters

If Wetherholt can develop into the caliber of player that Perdomo has become for the Diamondbacks, it would be a huge boost for the Cardinals' future. Perdomo was a 7-win player in 2025, slashing .290/.389/.462 with 20 homers, 100 RBIs and 27 stolen bases, finishing 4th in NL MVP voting. That type of impact is exactly what the Cardinals need from their top prospect.

The details

Wetherholt, a left-handed hitting shortstop, burst onto the scene with a 1.304 OPS, 16 homers and 36 stolen bases in 55 games as a sophomore at West Virginia. Despite some injury concerns during his draft spring, the Cardinals selected him 7th overall in 2025. Scouts praise his solid-average raw power, plus speed, and advanced baseball skills that allow him to get to his tools in games.

  • Wetherholt was ranked the 7th-best prospect by both The Athletic's Keith Law and ESPN's Kiley McDaniel in their 2026 top-100 lists.
  • Wetherholt was selected 7th overall by the Cardinals in the 2025 MLB Draft.

The players

JJ Wetherholt

The Cardinals' top overall prospect, a left-handed hitting shortstop with an impressive combination of tools and advanced baseball skills.

Geraldo Perdomo

An All-Star shortstop for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who had a 7-win season in 2025 with a .290/.389/.462 slash line, 20 homers, 100 RBIs and 27 stolen bases.

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What they’re saying

“Reminds me of: Shades of Geraldo Perdomo. Type: Above-average tools with incredible feel for the game.”

— Kiley McDaniel, ESPN Prospect Analyst

What’s next

Wetherholt is expected to make his MLB debut at some point during the 2026 season, and Cardinals fans will be eager to see if he can live up to the lofty comparisons to Perdomo.

The takeaway

The Cardinals' top prospect JJ Wetherholt has drawn lofty comparisons to Diamondbacks All-Star Geraldo Perdomo, with scouts praising his well-rounded tools and advanced baseball skills. If Wetherholt can develop into that caliber of player, he could quickly become a fan favorite in St. Louis and a key part of their future success.