Do you have the patience if Wetherholt struggles early in 2026 ?

[ramfandan]

Only expectation is JJ does not look like Gorman or Noot during his AB's.

Lack of mentor is a concern. Lack of competent MLB manager is concern. So just let him play the game.

Only expectation is JJ does not look like Gorman or Noot during his AB's.

Regarding this part of your comment .
Gorman vs. JJ .. Won't look similar at all . JJ doesn't chase pitches like Gorman . MLB average is 28-29 % chasse rate . Gorman in 2024 had a terrible 30.2 % and did improve last year in 2025 to 24.8% . So he laid off more pitches thrown for balls and those he did chase a few of those he made contact for hits.
Now compare that to JJ .. He had a 17.8% chase rate thus far in minors .. that is excellent and ranks in the 95th percentile . His final 2023 year in college a 13.2% chase rate.
JJ's low rates shows two things .. his strong bat to ball skills AND his ability to recognize pitches . That is what makes JJ an outstanding hitter.
In the MLB, success comes to batters who swing at strikes and who do not go fishing for pitches that would be called balls. Juan Soto is probably the premier player of that skill.. .a super eye at the plate.
Thought Pat Murphy had a great line the other day about having patience with young hitters . Murph 'I don't care if a kid goes 0 for 20 with swings and misses as long as he is swinging at pitches that are in the strikezone. . but if a kid is swinging at pitches that are 'balls' that's when I have a problem.

Made me think of why JJ will be a fine major leaguer .. the plate discipline will be a feature to his game and why he will look polar opposite of a Gorman at the plate.

[Carp4Cy]

Patience is what the Cardinals, and Cardinals fans, need to have in abundance over the next couple of years.

We are already tired of hearing this.

[Carp4Cy]

The question will be will Oli play him regularly or jack him around like he does all young players.

I don't see C. Bloom allowing him to do that OR.

JJW is the OD 2nd baseman and stays there for as many games as he can play.

JMO

Who gets kicked off the 40 man so he can be added to the roster by spring? Entire reason we did not bring him up in September so we could put some B and C rate “prospects” on the 40 man and avoid the rule five draft.

Multiple candidate, no player would keep JJW off the 40 man.

Agree. But they did in September unnecessarily. Dumb move by Mo. JJW could have already gotten his adjustment struggles out of the way.

[rockondlouie]

The question will be will Oli play him regularly or jack him around like he does all young players.

I don't see C. Bloom allowing him to do that OR.

JJW is the OD 2nd baseman and stays there for as many games as he can play.

JMO

Who gets kicked off the 40 man so he can be added to the roster by spring? Entire reason we did not bring him up in September so we could put some B and C rate “prospects” on the 40 man and avoid the rule five draft.

Multiple candidate, no player would keep JJW off the 40 man.

Agree. But they did in September unnecessarily. Dumb move by Mo. JJW could have already gotten his adjustment struggles out of the way.

I wanted him up here too carp for those exact reasons, started multiple threads begging for him to get the call up.