After getting the start at third base with Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, Cardinals fans are wondering when No. 1 prospect JJ Wetherholt will get promoted.
Position Change Prompts Cardinals No. 1 Prospect Promotion Question originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Have the St. Louis Cardinals found their next third baseman?
After gold glove third baseman Nolan Arenado was placed on the 10-day IL (shoulder soreness), with no timetable for his return, the club has made an interesting decision with their No. 1 prospect JJ Wetherholt.
He made his first professional start at third base.
Wetherholt, the Cardinals top pick (No. 7 overall) in the 2024 MLB Draft, went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs for the Memphis Redbirds in a 10-9 loss to the Norfolk Tides on Sunday. He also had an error-free day at the hot corner, registering three assists.
This season, Wetherholt has split time between shortstop (46 games) and second base (18 games) with Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis. He hasn't played third base since his freshman year at West Virginia.
"I really don't care. I'll play anywhere," Wetherholt told Athlon Sports in June, when asked if he was open to moving positions. With Masyn Winn firmly locked in at shortstop, and all-star Brendan Donovan, Nolan Gorman and others manning second base, the Cardinals currently have a log jam in the middle infield.
Prior to landing on the IL, Arenado was enjoying another impressive season at third base. He leads all MLB third baseman (with at least 80 starts) with a .988 fielding percentage, and is in the midst of a 68-game errorless streak, tied for the longest of his career. However, the 34-year old has struggled at the plate, slashing .235/.294/.366, well below his career average.
Wetherholt, however, has been tearing up Triple-A pitching since his promotion in early July. In 16 games with Memphis, he's slashing .344/.425/.754 with six home runs, 12 RBIs and an eye-popping OPS of 1.179. He's also walked more times (9) than he's struck out (8).
With Wetherholt swinging a hot bat, a September call-up seems highly likely, especially with the Cardinals postseason hopes fleeting.
Related: Cardinals Fans: 3 Things to Watch as The 2025 Season Winds Down
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
