Will Wetherholt hit .275 …

[ramfandan]

… hit 20 HR, 20 SB , play in 145 games , and reach a .790 OPS ?
Those were numbers that rookie Jackson Chourio reached in 2024.
Chourio had a slow start the first couple months and then caught fire from June til September.
Chourio was voted 3rd place Rookie of Year in NL behind run away winner Paul Skenes and 2nd place Jackson Merrill.

[bccardsfan]

… hit 20 HR, 20 SB , play in 145 games , and reach a .790 OPS ?
Those were numbers that rookie Jackson Chourio reached in 2024.
Chourio had a slow start the first couple months and then caught fire from June til September.
Chourio was voted 3rd place Rookie of Year in NL behind run away winner Paul Skenes and 2nd place Jackson Merrill.

I don't know about SB and dingers, but the other stats seem possible if he is indeed the hitter he is claimed to be.

[Jatalk]

… hit 20 HR, 20 SB , play in 145 games , and reach a .790 OPS ?
Those were numbers that rookie Jackson Chourio reached in 2024.
Chourio had a slow start the first couple months and then caught fire from June til September.
Chourio was voted 3rd place Rookie of Year in NL behind run away winner Paul Skenes and 2nd place Jackson Merrill.

I think my goals for him are a little more basic

First I want him to have a decent spring training and make the opening day roster. No one can be 100% sure he will do that. Let’s see.

Secondly I want him to settle on a defensive position and play above average defense. I’m guessing second base with Donovan gone.

Third I want consistent contact. Don’t struggle putting the ball in play. Nothing ruins a young hitter more than lack of contact. With contact the hits will come.

Fourth I want his fit on the team to be “natural” not based on lofty expectations. Obviously he will get a lot of fan attention but let’s hope others carry the team initially so there is less pressure on him.

[ramfandan]

… hit 20 HR, 20 SB , play in 145 games , and reach a .790 OPS ?
Those were numbers that rookie Jackson Chourio reached in 2024.
Chourio had a slow start the first couple months and then caught fire from June til September.
Chourio was voted 3rd place Rookie of Year in NL behind run away winner Paul Skenes and 2nd place Jackson Merrill.

I don't know about SB and dingers, but the other stats seem possible if he is indeed the hitter he is claimed to be.

Chourio hit 14 if his 21 HR’s at AmFam field in Milwaukee s 7 HR on the road.
Busch stadium tougher hitters park for JJ. si a split of 7 Hr at Busch and 7 on road for 14 total seems more realistic.
As for SB , no ballpark factor there.

[sikeston bulldog2]

He’d better.

[rockondlouie]

.280-.285
.355+ OB%
15-20 HR
20-30 SB's
.800+ OPS

ROY!

[bccardsfan]

.280-.285
.355+ OB%
15-20 HR
20-30 SB's
.800+ OPS

ROY!

Someone has had their coffee:) I hope you are right....

[rockondlouie]

.280-.285
.355+ OB%
15-20 HR
20-30 SB's
.800+ OPS

ROY!

Someone has had their coffee:) I hope you are right....

Unlike some of Mo's over-hyped prospects that came before him bcc, this kid is the real deal and works his a z z off to keep getting better (even on the glove side)!

[dugoutrex]

… hit 20 HR, 20 SB , play in 145 games , and reach a .790 OPS ?
Those were numbers that rookie Jackson Chourio reached in 2024.
Chourio had a slow start the first couple months and then caught fire from June til September.
Chourio was voted 3rd place Rookie of Year in NL behind run away winner Paul Skenes and 2nd place Jackson Merrill.

I think my goals for him are a little more basic

First I want him to have a decent spring training and make the opening day roster. No one can be 100% sure he will do that. Let’s see.

Secondly I want him to settle on a defensive position and play above average defense. I’m guessing second base with Donovan gone.

Third I want consistent contact. Don’t struggle putting the ball in play. Nothing ruins a young hitter more than lack of contact. With contact the hits will come.

Fourth I want his fit on the team to be “natural” not based on lofty expectations. Obviously he will get a lot of fan attention but let’s hope others carry the team initially so there is less pressure on him.

no Cardinal player will be getting 'a lot of fan attention' - were are going to suck!

[bccardsfan]

.280-.285
.355+ OB%
15-20 HR
20-30 SB's
.800+ OPS

ROY!

Someone has had their coffee:) I hope you are right....

Unlike some of Mo's over-hyped prospects that came before him bcc, this kid is the real deal and works his a z z off to keep getting better (even on the glove side)!

Rock, I am with you, but we both know that JJW has never seen the sort of pitching he will see in MLB. In ST he may see some pitching he will hit, but once the season gets going and the good pitchers adjust to him, then it will be the usual rookie having to adjust to what they are doing to him. You know the drill. Pujols drilled it all from day one, but he was the generational talent. I am pulling for JJW, but we shall see how he can adjust to the best pitching. Believe me, I will be pulling for the kid.

[Strummer Jones]

I would be happy with .260, average defense, 10-15 home runs, and 20-25 base thefts. As a rookie? I think that is a good start, and also attainable.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Sure is a lot of - gonna happen hype. What if he is a bust- lonely egg in an empty basket.

[ramfandan]

… hit 20 HR, 20 SB , play in 145 games , and reach a .790 OPS ?
Those were numbers that rookie Jackson Chourio reached in 2024.
Chourio had a slow start the first couple months and then caught fire from June til September.
Chourio was voted 3rd place Rookie of Year in NL behind run away winner Paul Skenes and 2nd place Jackson Merrill.

I think my goals for him are a little more basic

First I want him to have a decent spring training and make the opening day roster. No one can be 100% sure he will do that. Let’s see.

Secondly I want him to settle on a defensive position and play above average defense. I’m guessing second base with Donovan gone.

Third I want consistent contact. Don’t struggle putting the ball in play. Nothing ruins a young hitter more than lack of contact. With contact the hits will come.

Fourth I want his fit on the team to be “natural” not based on lofty expectations. Obviously he will get a lot of fan attention but let’s hope others carry the team initially so there is less pressure on him.

Like your 4 goals… a few comments off top if my head
In your order

1.. if openings at 2nd and 3rd he not only makes the roster but starts at one of those two spots

2… As for above avg defense, at least avg. is my hope. As JJ saud himself, u have always been a hit-first type player. No scouts project him as Gold Glove fielder type. I personally like him at 2nd as you do gir long term. He could start at 3rd though if Oli feels better offense with another at 2nd

3…regarding consistent contact. Yes, his greatest skill had been bat ti ball contact. He chased very little and hits the ball hard to all parts of the field. As Bloom stated, you rarely see that in a young guy his age. He will need to adjust to mlb caliber pitching but like Chourio should do so after getting comfy.

4…As for ‘pressure’ on him. JJ plays with a calmness and maturity you don’t see in kids. Even Oli noticed that Kat year in spring training. Bloom said he can go 0 for 4 and doesn’t hang his head.
Head. Think he is type to play his game and not get caught up in pressure. He has positive mental approach.

[mattmitchl44]

I would definitely take the under on a .790 OPS as a rookie in Busch.

[CorneliusWolfe]

… hit 20 HR, 20 SB , play in 145 games , and reach a .790 OPS ?
Those were numbers that rookie Jackson Chourio reached in 2024.
Chourio had a slow start the first couple months and then caught fire from June til September.
Chourio was voted 3rd place Rookie of Year in NL behind run away winner Paul Skenes and 2nd place Jackson Merrill.

I think my goals for him are a little more basic

First I want him to have a decent spring training and make the opening day roster. No one can be 100% sure he will do that. Let’s see.

Secondly I want him to settle on a defensive position and play above average defense. I’m guessing second base with Donovan gone.

Third I want consistent contact. Don’t struggle putting the ball in play. Nothing ruins a young hitter more than lack of contact. With contact the hits will come.

Fourth I want his fit on the team to be “natural” not based on lofty expectations. Obviously he will get a lot of fan attention but let’s hope others carry the team initially so there is less pressure on him.

Great post...he needs to earn it. Too much free runway, rebuild or not. SIck of jobs being given because of hype. He has earned the chance with his minor league performance but should continue to earn it every step along the way.

[ramfandan]

.280-.285
.355+ OB%
15-20 HR
20-30 SB's
.800+ OPS

ROY!

Someone has had their coffee:) I hope you are right....

Unlike some of Mo's over-hyped prospects that came before him bcc, this kid is the real deal and works his a z z off to keep getting better (even on the glove side)!

Rock, I am with you, but we both know that JJW has never seen the sort of pitching he will see in MLB. In ST he may see some pitching he will hit, but once the season gets going and the good pitchers adjust to him, then it will be the usual rookie having to adjust to what they are doing to him. You know the drill. Pujols drilled it all from day one, but he was the generational talent. I am pulling for JJW, but we shall see how he can adjust to the best pitching. Believe me, I will be pulling for the kid.

For sure, he has to adjust in regular season as he faced the best starters. So did Chourio and he struggled first couple months then settled in. Personally, I think his bat to ball skillset is ranked higher than Chourio his rookie year. Chourio chased more .