Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Predicted To Promote JJ Wetherholt; Timeline Revealed

The Cardinals should have called up their top prospect weeks ago...
Zach Pressnell|
Jul 12, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; National League infielder JJ Wetherholt (26) of the St. Louis Cardinals rounds the bases during the second inning against American League at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Jul 12, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; National League infielder JJ Wetherholt (26) of the St. Louis Cardinals rounds the bases during the second inning against American League at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals have waved the white flag on the season, and it looks like they're ready to gear up for the offseason and beyond.

In the offseason, the Cardinals are going to be able to make big moves, like potential trades involving All-Star Brendan Donovan and others. But first, the Cardinals could see the big-league debut of their top prospect, JJ Wetherholt.

FanSided's Zachary Rotman recently predicted the Cardinals would call Wetherholt up to the big leagues when the calendar flips to September.

JJ Wetherholt is likely a September call-up for St. Louis

St. Louis Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherhol
Mar 5, 2025; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left feilder JJ Wetherholt (87) runs to second base against the Houston Astros during the second inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images | Rich Storry-Imagn Images

"This would be a quick call-up for Wetherholt, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, but who's to say he doesn't deserve it? He played extremely well in Double-A leading to a call-up to Triple-A, and all he's done at that level is play better, as his .295/.387/.638 slash line with nine home runs in just 27 games would suggest," Rotman wrote. "In fact, Wetherholt has two more home runs in Triple-A than he did in 35 more games at Double-A.

"His bat is ready, the only question to answer is where would he play? Brendan Donovan and Nolan Arenado both being on the IL for now opens both second base and third base. Wherever the Cardinals were to choose to deploy him, they should make the move ASAP. Their team would be better now with him starting over guys like Thomas Saggese and Nolan Gorman, and would be better set up for the future as well knowing he's MLB-ready."

It makes sense for Wetherholt to be a September call-up, as Rotman predicts, but it also would have made sense for the Cardinals to call him up weeks ago.

The young infielder has shown the ability to play second base or third base at a high level. His bat isn't a question at all right now, as he's terrorized Triple-A pitching for the last few weeks.

Wetherholt looks like an every day infielder at the big league level already. Getting his feet wet during a lost season like this would be the best idea ahead of 2026.

More MLB: Cardinals Call Up? St. Louis Pushed To Bring Star To Big League Roster

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Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding "St. Louis Cardinals On SI," please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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