Cardinals' Top Prospect Could Reach St. Louis Soon

JJ Wetherholt, the crown jewel of the Cardinals' farm system, is knocking on the door of the major leagues.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 4:47pm

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The St. Louis Cardinals are in the midst of a rebuild, having traded away several key players over the last eight months. One of the top prospects they've acquired is second baseman JJ Wetherholt, who is tearing it up in the minors and could push current starter Brendan Donovan out the door if he continues his hot hitting.

Why it matters

The Cardinals are looking to the future, and Wetherholt's potential MLB debut could be a sign of things to come as the team transitions to a new core of young talent.

The details

Wetherholt, a former Dick Howser Award finalist, was a top draft prospect before falling to the Cardinals at #7 in 2024 due to a hamstring injury. Since then, he's raked at every level, posting a 154 wRC+ between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025. The Cardinals opted not to call him up last September, but with Donovan's contract expiring, Wetherholt could push for the starting second base job if he picks up where he left off.

  • Wetherholt made his professional debut after being drafted in 2024.
  • In 2025, he split the season between Double-A and Triple-A, posting impressive offensive numbers.
  • There were rumblings about Wetherholt potentially being a September callup in 2025, but the Cardinals kept him in the minors for the full season.

The players

JJ Wetherholt

A top prospect in the Cardinals' farm system and the potential second baseman of the future.

Brendan Donovan

The Cardinals' current starting second baseman, whose contract is expiring and could be traded to make room for Wetherholt.

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What they’re saying

“The crown jewel of the Cardinals' farm system and a former Dick Howser Award finalist, Wetherholt was a true 1:1 contender before the 2024 collegiate season.”

— Adam Akbani, Just Baseball writer

“Since his professional debut, he's done nothing but rake, posting a 140 wRC+ in the Fall after the draft and a 154 wRC+ between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025.”

— Adam Akbani, Just Baseball writer

What’s next

If Wetherholt continues his hot hitting to start the 2026 season, he could push Donovan out of the starting second base job, either forcing a trade or a position change for the veteran.

The takeaway

The Cardinals' rebuild is in full swing, and the arrival of top prospect JJ Wetherholt could be a sign of things to come as the team transitions to a new core of young talent.