JJ Wetherholt starts 2025 in AA Springfield

[redbirdfan51]

What position will JJ play at Springfield?

[Cranny]

Proper path over a 5 month season would have been
High A - promoted to AA - promoted to AAA.

[rockondlouie]

Good to hear

Hope he's in Memphis by mid summer, would be awesome if he hit so well (at AA/AAA) that he'd get a "M. Winn like" late callup to St. Louis in September!

[renostl]

and bench time at mlb is not how you develop players. With Burly that is 4 outfielders that need to play with Siani riding pine or late defense.

JJ needs some time to
show that he's closer to ready.

That aside. When a roster carries 13 pitchers a player that rides the bench
is a player with only one skill. Carp, Siani sure they sit. Baker and Burleson will fight for time
but they can at least play 1B. Multiple skills and they won't. With the backup C and a DH the bench
is short

JJ outfields, IMO, Donovan, Gorman, Saggese and is able to rest Winn.
He can hold his own with today's NA.
If his bat were to be in the average range and he was in some universe
blocked by all stars he would still get time.

[renostl]

Good to hear

Hope he's in Memphis by mid summer, would be awesome if he hit so well (at AA/AAA) that he'd get a "M. Winn like" late callup to St. Louis in September!

correct

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Sure. I just disagree with the placement. Let him go rake at high-A for a minute to prove he’s ready. It hurts nothing.

Yea, I agree with you.

[Wattage]

Pathetic...he should be at AAA.

Why? You feel he is a nearly finished product after 105 minor league ABs?

He thinks college was his minor leagues and he should have started the season in the majors lol

Yep...laughable he's at AA

He had 804 ops in a ball. While good thats not exactly immaculate crushing needs to skip all levels. Just cuz you hear a prospects hype and name doesnt mean he can skip all the way to the top.

[Wattage]

Pathetic...he should be at AAA.

Why? You feel he is a nearly finished product after 105 minor league ABs?

He should be at AAA....with his hit tool and talent level ....i don't think he will be in AA to long...

Why. His .804 ops at A ball while good doesnt scream skip 2 levels.

[dinker]

Pathetic...he should be at AAA.

Why? You feel he is a nearly finished product after 105 minor league ABs?

He thinks college was his minor leagues and he should have started the season in the majors lol

Yep...laughable he's at AA

It's very common for top 10 draft picks to go into double A real fast and often they will skip AAA... heck most of the most talented young ones are in AA where as many older AAAA types are bouncing back and forth from the majors and back to AAA.

[icon]

Just curious: How many hitters who turn into superstars come from college vs. those drafted out of high school? I know Pujols only spent 1 year at a junior college. Griffey didn't go. Trout didn't go. Betts did not. Harper had 1 year. Judge had 3 years. Any data on that?

[icon]

Pathetic...he should be at AAA.

Why? You feel he is a nearly finished product after 105 minor league ABs?

He thinks college was his minor leagues and he should have started the season in the majors lol

Yep...laughable he's at AA

It's very common for top 10 draft picks to go into double A real fast and often they will skip AAA... heck most of the most talented young ones are in AA where as many older AAAA types are bouncing back and forth from the majors and back to AAA.

Yeah, AAA has a lot of old MLB flunkies.

[Shady]

What position will JJ play at Springfield?

If the Cardinals expect JJ in the same lineup, eventually, with Winn. It would make sense to start grooming him more at 2B and/or 3B. With all his experience at SS, he should still be an able backup SS. I'm looking forward to Winn, Saggese and Wetherholt being in the the Cardinals lineup, together, fairly soon. Saggese and Wetherholt at either 2B or 3B.

[rockondlouie]

Just curious: How many hitters who turn into superstars come from college vs. those drafted out of high school?

Top of my head I don't think these guys played minor league ball after college:

Dave Winfield (Superstar)
Bob Horner
John Olerud
Pete Incaviglia

[Futuregm2]

Just curious: How many hitters who turn into superstars come from college vs. those drafted out of high school? I know Pujols only spent 1 year at a junior college. Griffey didn't go. Trout didn't go. Betts did not. Harper had 1 year. Judge had 3 years. Any data on that?

Well, a good amount of the top 30 in offensive rating on fangraphs last year came from international signings. From college/hs, looks like:

Aaron Judge- college
Bobby Witt Jr.- HS
Gunnar Henderson- HS
Brent Rooker- college
Bryce Harper- college (1 year)
Freddie Freeman- HS
Kyle Schwarber- college
Mookie Betts- HS
Jackson Merrill- HS
Riley Greene- HS
Matt Chapman- college
Corey Seager- HS
Steven Kwan- college

[Shady]

What position will JJ play at Springfield?

Are the Cardinals really just going to play Wetherholt at SS this season? It seems he, Saggese and Gorman are the primary candidates at 3B and 2B in the 5 to seven years future after Arenado leaves.

[redbirdfan51]

It would be interesting what the IF alignment could be in the next couple of years. Nado would surely be gone , Donovan and Gorman also could be as well.Anything can happen this season and next.