How aggressive should Cards be with Wetherholt?

[Monsieur De Treville]

Wetherholt is now hitting .296 with an .832 OPS in Springfield. A beautiful .383 OBP. Takes walks and doesn't K often. Six doubles & three homers.

So how aggressive should the Cards be with this kid?

1. Promote him to Memphis today?
2. Wait until July 1st to promote?
3. No real rush..let him play most of year in AA ball?

I believe in player development...but I would have no problem if the Cards decide to aggressively promote the kid throughout this season.

You?

[Shady]

Wetherholt is now hitting .296 with an .832 OPS in Springfield. A beautiful .383 OBP. Takes walks and doesn't K often. Six doubles & three homers.

So how aggressive should the Cards be with this kid?

1. Promote him to Memphis today?
2. Wait until July 1st to promote?
3. No real rush..let him play most of year in AA ball?

I believe in player development...but I would have no problem if the Cards decide to aggressively promote the kid throughout this season.

You?

#3. One way or the other, if he keeps up this pace, he needs some time at Memphis later in the season.

[11WSChamps]

No rush.

Walker is proof of that.

Let him rake and gain work habits at the lower levels.

Skipping steps in his development is not needed.

[Shady]

No rush.

Walker is proof of that.

Let him rake and gain work habits at the lower levels.

Skipping steps in his development is not needed.

Question being, would some experience at Memphis, for at least a month, help him be better prepared to play at the MLB level next season? Possibly make the team out of spring training.

[Jatalk]

Wetherholt is now hitting .296 with an .832 OPS in Springfield. A beautiful .383 OBP. Takes walks and doesn't K often. Six doubles & three homers.

So how aggressive should the Cards be with this kid?

1. Promote him to Memphis today?
2. Wait until July 1st to promote?
3. No real rush..let him play most of year in AA ball?

I believe in player development...but I would have no problem if the Cards decide to aggressively promote the kid throughout this season.

You?

I’d lean toward 3

[11WSChamps]

No rush.

Walker is proof of that.

Let him rake and gain work habits at the lower levels.

Skipping steps in his development is not needed.

Question being, would some experience at Memphis, for at least a month, help him be better prepared to play at the MLB level next season? Possibly make the team out of spring training.

My guess is a month at Memphis won't matter if the ballclub is serious about starting him at say 3B on opening day 2026 which is where he's going to start his career.

[Futuregm2]

I’d say wait and see how he does rest of May and June. If he really starts raking (like .900+ OPS during that time) then promote to AAA.

[billybaseball]

I think the Cardinals need to figure out where he's going to play before they start fast tracking him. Either put him at 3rd or CF because we have cornerstone players at 2nd and SS. Scott's bat is beginning to fall off so it's not set in stone that he's an everday starter in the ML.

But his bat is legit. I knew he would take off once he started pulling the ball more. His homer today was absolutely annihilated. Don't think we have any ev's or distance but it was an absolute rocket line drive that hit ogg a building about 20 ft above the RF wall.

[Cusecards]

If he continues at his current pace I’d guess he’ll be called to Memphis July or August.
Invite to ST.
No rush.

[1_12_1968]

He seems light on power for a world class 3rd baseman

[Red7]

AA is where the best prospects are. It’s not like 30 years ago. Leave him where he’s at. Right now, there’s no place in STL for him. 3B is still blocked by Arenado. Right now, Donovan’s defense has been so stellar, I think he’s laid claim to a permanent place there. Unless there’s a move to the OF in the near future, where would he play?

[MrPostman01]

No rush.

Walker is proof of that.

Let him rake and gain work habits at the lower levels.

Skipping steps in his development is not needed.

They are almost the same age

[2ninr]

He seems light on power for a world class 3rd baseman

We are used to that.

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

No rush.

Walker is proof of that.

Let him rake and gain work habits at the lower levels.

Skipping steps in his development is not needed.

Walker is not proof of that. Besides I believe Walker played a full season in AA (and did well) before getting promoted to AAA, if not it was very close to a full season. Each player is their own entity and each player should have their own development plan, if not the organization is sunk.

With that said, I have no idea what these players need or don't neither does anyone on this forum, I am hopeful they do the right thing, not the thing that I or you or anyone else wants.

[Ace07]

He looks like another Brendan Donovan. Where do we fit him in at?

[ecleme22]

No rush.

Walker is proof of that.

Let him rake and gain work habits at the lower levels.

Skipping steps in his development is not needed.

Question being, would some experience at Memphis, for at least a month, help him be better prepared to play at the MLB level next season? Possibly make the team out of spring training.

My guess is a month at Memphis won't matter if the ballclub is serious about starting him at say 3B on opening day 2026 which is where he's going to start his career.

I think a cup of coffee at AAA would be nice going into the offseason.