Will Wetherholt hit .275 …

[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)!

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.

True

But he has destroyed upper level college, AA and AAA pitching!

I like the trend.

For sure he'll have his struggles but I'd bet his end of the season numbers have him right there for the ROTY award!

[ramfandan]

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.

Except for the stolen bases, you are describing Jordan Walker’s rookie season offensively.
Walker hit .276 with 16 HR.
I agree with you That JJ can match Walker’s rookie year offensive stats.

[Basil Shabazz]

The title of the OP made me think this was a Shady thread

[cardinalsfever44]

I asked AI to project Wetherholt's 2026 season if he is the opening day starter at 2B for the Cardinals:

If J.J. Wetherholt opens 2026 as the Cardinals’ everyday second baseman and receives roughly 500 plate appearances, a reasonable baseline projection is ~500 PA, .290 AVG, .380 OBP, .460 SLG, 10–14 HR, 65–75 R, 55–65 RBI, 8–12 SB, and about 2.5–3.5 WAR for the season.

This projection rests on three core assumptions: he is the Opening Day everyday 2B, he gets roughly 500 PAs (everyday role, top‑3 lineup spot), and his minor‑league profile—high contact, excellent plate discipline, above‑average but not elite power—translates to the majors. Playing time is the largest driver of variance; more or fewer PAs scale the counting stats up or down.

Framed as three scenarios: the conservative outcome (about 420 PA) would look like .270/.350/.420, ~7 HR, ~55 R, ~45 RBI, ~6 SB, ~1.5 WAR; the base case (about 500 PA) is the .290/.380/.460 line with ~12 HR, ~70 R, ~60 RBI, ~10 SB, ~3.0 WAR; the upside (about 550 PA) would be closer to .305/.395/.500 with 15–16 HR, ~85 R, ~75 RBI, ~14 SB, ~4.0 WAR.

Scouting and minor‑league results emphasize Wetherholt’s advanced approach and elite walk rates, which support a high OBP even if power remains moderate; his slugging is driven by doubles and strong contact rather than true plus power, so home run totals cluster in the low‑teens in a full season. Defensive value at second base and baserunning add to his WAR, but that metric is sensitive to playing time and how well his hit tool translates against MLB pitching.

[ramfandan]

Based on Walker’s .276 rookie avg. and Chourio’s similar BA , U certainly feel JJ can replicate a similar batting average and aoPS range too. Walker’s 16 HR total seems doable range (14-16 ).
Chourio had 21 but 14 were at Milwaukee’s home park.
His 7 road homers would translate to 24 total in a Busch Stadium venue.

[imetsatchelpaige]

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.

And a hell of lot more realistic.
The kid is promising, but he is not Albert Pujols.

[Bushiro]

He’d better.

You got that right....his bat to ball skills are top notch... and will continue on into the major leagues

[Bushiro]

I read it he's better....my bad....however I do think he's better

[ICCFIM2]

If he puts up a 275/350/425 slashline, we should all be ecstatic. Since he is playing for Korea in the WBC, I wonder if he will even make the opening day roster since he will not be in camp most of spring training. I hope he does, but he is not a lock.

[JDW]

Projecting he will be +.800 OPS with a WAR above the +3 level, with plus defense IF he can maintain a relatively healthy 2026 season.

[blackinkbiz]

… 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.

Sadly, after the Walker/Gorman/Oli-destroys-all-he-touches debacles, I no longer have positive expectations.

He could be phenomenal; he could be a total dud.

Neither would surprise me at this point. Congratulations, Oli & company, you've managed to extinguish all hope.

*Sidenote: heard a kind of funny interview with Oli on 101EPSN yesterday. He was asked, what are the things you realize now after 5 years of managing that you realize you had no clue about when you started?

His response: "Just how much you are hated."

He laughed about it and said I want it because that's what comes with the big chair, but says he never thought he could be hated this much. Perhaps if he'd own up to his mistakes (2022 Phils Game1) instead of constantly doubling down. Anyways, getting off topic a little.

I hope JJ is 4+ WAR rookie of the year!

[Hoosier59]

What has made JJ successful so far is his ability and preference to hit to all fields, and be selective at the plate. If he continues to do those things, he’ll be fine.

[ramfandan]

If he puts up a 275/350/425 slashline, we should all be ecstatic. Since he is playing for Korea in the WBC, I wonder if he will even make the opening day roster since he will not be in camp most of spring training. I hope he does, but he is not a lock.

Actually if JJ played in WBC , it would be more helpful in his batting than spring training games, as he can face an Ohtani, Skubal, Skenes etc in WBC vs. Mostly young AAA type guys vying for roster spots in spring training games.

As for not being a lock, if Cardinals trade Donovan and Arenado that opens up both 2nd and 3rd base jobs. Who is on roster to block him from making the team… Gorman and Saggesse ? Don’t think so

[Basil Shabazz]

JJW is the most MLB ready prospect we've seen since JD Drew

[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.

And a hell of lot more realistic.
The kid is promising, but he is not Albert Pujols.

I felt it was a fair benchmark to reach. And you're right, he's not. Nor should he be.

If all goes well, then one year we're gonna hope we can find "the next JJ Weatherholt." And I think that's a good compliment to the kid.

[imetsatchelpaige]

If he puts up a 275/350/425 slashline, we should all be ecstatic. Since he is playing for Korea in the WBC, I wonder if he will even make the opening day roster since he will not be in camp most of spring training, and there is a reasonable chance he will be hurt in the WBC and out for a long period (see Waino). I hope he does, but he is not a lock.

Fixed it for you.
I hate the WBC.