Wetherholt Set to Make MLB Debut
March 25, 2026 03:40 PM | Baseball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Former West Virginia University baseball player JJ Wetherholt is set to make his major league debut on Thursday, March 26, as the St. Louis Cardinals host the Tampa Bay Rays at 4:15 p.m. ET as part of MLB's Opening Day.
The top prospect in the Cardinals organization and No. 5 in MLB, Wetherholt hit .212 with two home runs and seven RBI in 15 Grapefruit League games this spring. He had and .780 OPS and .386 OBP as he had nine walks against just seven strikeouts, showcasing his discipline at the plate and elite bat-to-ball skills.
Drafted seventh overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, Wetherholt hit .304 with a .931 OPS across 138 games with Single-A Palm Beach, Double-A Springfield, and Triple-A Memphis. He also hit 19 home runs, drove in 79 runs, and stole 25 bases.
With the Mountaineers from 2022-24, Wetherholt was one of the most accomplished players to ever put on the Gold and Blue. In 145 games, he hit .370 with 29 home runs, 129 RBI, 148 runs scored and 57 stolen bases. He was named the 2024 Big 12 Player of the Year and a unanimous First-Team All-American after leading the nation with a .449 batting average while hitting 16 home runs and stealing 36 bases.
Wetherholt will become the 32nd Mountaineer to reach the big leagues and will join former WVU outfielder Victor Scott II in St. Louis. Wetherholt is expected to play second base for the Cardinals.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The top prospect in the Cardinals organization and No. 5 in MLB, Wetherholt hit .212 with two home runs and seven RBI in 15 Grapefruit League games this spring. He had and .780 OPS and .386 OBP as he had nine walks against just seven strikeouts, showcasing his discipline at the plate and elite bat-to-ball skills.
Drafted seventh overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, Wetherholt hit .304 with a .931 OPS across 138 games with Single-A Palm Beach, Double-A Springfield, and Triple-A Memphis. He also hit 19 home runs, drove in 79 runs, and stole 25 bases.
With the Mountaineers from 2022-24, Wetherholt was one of the most accomplished players to ever put on the Gold and Blue. In 145 games, he hit .370 with 29 home runs, 129 RBI, 148 runs scored and 57 stolen bases. He was named the 2024 Big 12 Player of the Year and a unanimous First-Team All-American after leading the nation with a .449 batting average while hitting 16 home runs and stealing 36 bases.
Wetherholt will become the 32nd Mountaineer to reach the big leagues and will join former WVU outfielder Victor Scott II in St. Louis. Wetherholt is expected to play second base for the Cardinals.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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