Cardinals No. 1 Prospect JJ Wetherholt Makes Instant Impact in Triple-A Debut

Cardinals No. 1 Prospect JJ Wetherholt Makes Instant Impact in Triple-A Debut originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The St. Louis Cardinals' seventh overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, JJ Wetherholt, has made instant impact in his Triple-A debut.

With the Memphis Redbirds, the Cardinals Triple-A team, Wetherholt earned a triple and homer in the first five innings of his debut. The prospect finished the game going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run to go along with his triple and homer. Wetherholt was the bright side of the Memphis Redbirds as the team was defeated 10-4 in Game 1 of their doubleheader against the Charlotte Knights.

Wetherholt, 22, was super consistent in his 62 Double-A games he's played this season and it's clear he is a serious piece of the Cardinals future. 

During his time with the Springfield Cardinals, St. Louis' Double-A team, Wetherholt had 67 hits, 7 home runs and 34 RBI. 

JJ WETHERHOLT @HueysRestaurant HOMER IN HIS FIRST TRIPLE-A GAME!!!! pic.twitter.com/3KwclrL3up

— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) July 9, 2025

"His swing kinda reminds me of Kyle Tucker. Yes please," one X user said.

Wetherholt began his professional career last season, playing 29 games with the Single-A Palm Beach Cardinals. After finishing with an .805 OPS with Palm Beach, he began his 2025 season in Double-A Springfield.

"Everybody is more polished here," the top prospect said about adjusting to Double- A in an interview with Athlon Sports. "There's more command on the mound, really everything is just a step up. It's been really fun adjusting though."

He clearly adjusted fine into Triple-A the way he did in Double-A, Cardinals fans hope he does the same when his name gets called for the MLB.

With the recent promotion, Wetherholt becomes the first Cardinals' minor leaguer to reach Triple-A or higher within a year of being drafted since Michael Wacha in 2013.

Wetherholt’s impressive Triple-A debut is just the latest step in what’s quickly becoming a fast-tracked rise through the Cardinals’ farm system. If he continues to perform, a call-up to the big leagues may come sooner than expected.

Related: Cardinals' No. 1 Prospect Receives Highly Anticipated Promotion

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.