Wetherholt Back From Injury, Poised to Continue Massive Impact

One of baseball's hottest hitters is back at the plate.

West Virginia second baseman JJ Wetherholt staged his return from injury in last weekend's sweep of TCU, to the tune of record-breaking crowds and a three-run double in Sunday's finale. The sophomore power hitter followed that performance up with a midweek grand slam and a five-RBI night against Penn State on Tuesday.

Head coach Randy Mazey called Wetherholt's at-bats "worth the price of admission".

"Nothing he does surprises us at this point," Mazey said. "The laws of averages tell you that you're not able to do what he's doing, but he's doing it in spite of that. He just plays with a tremendous amount of confidence, and he always has. The guys are rallying around him and it's a fun group to watch. I literally do nothing. I just stand there and watch our guys play."

Back from a thumb injury-induced five-game hiatus, Wetherholt has officially resumed his role in the top of Mazey's lineup. He's hitting behind leadoff guy Tevin Tucker, and Wetherholt may be there to stay.

"I kind of like the two-hole just because I feel like I can do more damage," Wetherholt said of the change. "Leadoff is a little bit different, because I have to get on and my swing, if I hit a homer, isn't the biggest deal. When I've got guys on base and can do something like that, it can really change the game, so I like the two a little right now."

Now, when Wetherholt steps up to the plate, the Monongalia County Ballpark crowd cheers and anticipates that the .459 hitter will provide positive change. At the beginning of this year though, a full ballpark rooting specifically for his success used to elicit the opposite reaction.

"At the beginning of the year, when the crowd would get really into it, I could kind of get too big and try to do too much," Wetherholt said. "In the moment, I'm hearing it and I like it, obviously it's firing me up, but I'm just kind of laser-focused on what I need to do."

The Wetherholt hype has since leaked out of Monongalia County Ballpark and into conversations of coaches, scouts, and awards committees across the country. Wetherholt was recently named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List and the Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List; the latter is based on performance at the plate, academics, and personal integrity.

The sophomore phenom has quickly compiling a stellar 2023 resume: nine home runs, 17 doubles, 44 RBI, 49 runs scored, and a Big 12 Conference-leading 28 stolen bases. Behind LSU's Dylan Crews, Wetherholt's average makes him the country's second-most formidable batter.

The Mars, Pa. native gained his wheels from a childhood playing running back and safety on the gridiron. He's narrowed his intuition and attention to detail based on elementary school basketball coaches running plays specifically to get him the ball. He's been an impact player on every team he's been on in every sport he's played. Now under the tutelage of Mazey, Wetherholt is in fine-tuning mode. First on the list: mental skills.

"I'm finally creating a routine," Wetherholt said of his changing mindset. "I didn't really have a routine of any sort, so I kind of have a routine when I go up to the plate now. I have a routine pregame and postgame; I like to do the same kind of stuff, so that's been a big part as well."

Regulating the things he can control has allowed Wetherholt to refocus his efforts into hitting dingers and helping his team round the bases. The 30-11 (8-4) Mountaineers sit at No. 1 in the Big 12 Conference and Wetherholt's base path contributions ring throughout the individual rankings. In nearly every offensive category, Wetherholt and Texas Tech's Gavin Kash jockey for first place.

Wetherholt will reprise his role at second base tonight with the series opener against the Baylor Bears. This weekend's series will be televised on ESPN+ and the Friday night action begins at 7:30 p.m. EST.

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