The St. Louis Cardinals announced they have signed their first round draft pick (7th overall) in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft, shortstop JJ Wetherholt out of West Virginia University.
Wetherholt, a Pittsburgh-area native who attended Mars Area High School, played three seasons for the Mountaineers slashing .370/.468/.625/1.093 with 29 home runs, 49 doubles, 129 RBI, 148 runs and a 1:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio with 82 walks in 145 career games. As a sophomore, he won the NCAA Division I batting title and earned Big 12 Conference Player of the Year after hitting .449/.517/.787 with 16 homers, 24 doubles, 60 RBI, and 36 stolen bases.
The 5’10”, 190-pound left-handed hitter was limited to 36 games in 2024 after injuring his hamstring in February. He finished his junior season slashing .331/.472/.589 with eight home runs, eight doubles, 30 RBI, 30 runs scored, six steals, and 30 walks with just 17 strikeouts in 164 plate appearances. Despite the injury, Wetherholt led the Mountaineers with a 1.061 OPS and was All-Big 12 First Team selection. JJ was a unanimous First-Team All-America following the 2023 season and became the first player since 2002 with 40 extra-base hits and 35 stolen bases.
Wetherholt is rated as the 24th overall prospect in all of baseball and the Cardinals top prospect according to Baseball America, one spot ahead of right-handed pitcher Tink Hence.
A natural righthander, Wetherholt started hitting left-handed at the age of six after emulating his older brother and has been a lefty-only hitter ever since.
Wetherholt is the third 7th overall selection for the Cardinals since 1965 and becomes the Cardinals highest overall selection since outfielder J.D. Drew was taken 5th overall in 1998.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, JJ (full name Jonathan David Wetherholt) is the son of Mike and Holly Wetherholt. His older brother, Brandon, played baseball at Division II Gannon University in Erie, Penn.
Wetherholt will first report to Jupiter, Fla. where he will receive his affiliation assignment to begin his professional career and 2024 minor league season.
