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JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 02 Jul 2025 19:45 pm
by scoutyjones2
Some 14 players on MLB Pipeline’s current Top 100 Prospects list have already received MLB callups this season, and six prospects hailing from the 2024 MLB Draft have been promoted to the big leagues, causing all sorts of emotions to churn inside the gut of Cardinals top prospect JJ Wetherholt.
However, after a few seconds of reasoning and reflecting, the shortstop/second baseman at Double-A Springfield who is mature beyond his years understands that all paths to the big leagues are different and that his time will come if he simply keeps on keeping on.
“It's a mix of both [emotions], for sure,” said Wetherholt, the No. 7 pick in 2024, referring to fellow draftees Chase Burns, Nick Kurtz, Jac Caglianone, Christian Moore, Cam Smith and Round 2C pick Ryan Johnson reaching the big leagues before him. “When you see that, you want some of that for yourself. But it's not how things are supposed to go now. And you don't benefit by thinking that way.
“So that's a time I can sit down, reflect and understand that I'm exactly where I should be. It fires me up to see [other promotions]. You can have those external thoughts of, ‘Oh shoot, they've been called up and I haven't,’ but that's not for me to worry about. Where my focus needs to be is trusting in the [organization] and going out and playing good ball. At the end of the day, if I just continue to play well, things will take care of themselves.”
Re: JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 02 Jul 2025 19:54 pm
by russellhammond
So...who's spot would he take? Winn? Donovan? Arenado? Gorm...well, wait a minute now....
Re: JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 02 Jul 2025 20:03 pm
by craviduce
scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑02 Jul 2025 19:45 pm
Some 14 players on MLB Pipeline’s current Top 100 Prospects list have already received MLB callups this season, and six prospects hailing from the 2024 MLB Draft have been promoted to the big leagues, causing all sorts of emotions to churn inside the gut of Cardinals top prospect JJ Wetherholt.
However, after a few seconds of reasoning and reflecting, the shortstop/second baseman at Double-A Springfield who is mature beyond his years understands that all paths to the big leagues are different and that his time will come if he simply keeps on keeping on.
“It's a mix of both [emotions], for sure,” said Wetherholt, the No. 7 pick in 2024, referring to fellow draftees Chase Burns, Nick Kurtz, Jac Caglianone, Christian Moore, Cam Smith and Round 2C pick Ryan Johnson reaching the big leagues before him. “When you see that, you want some of that for yourself. But it's not how things are supposed to go now. And you don't benefit by thinking that way.
“So that's a time I can sit down, reflect and understand that I'm exactly where I should be. It fires me up to see [other promotions]. You can have those external thoughts of, ‘Oh shoot, they've been called up and I haven't,’ but that's not for me to worry about. Where my focus needs to be is trusting in the [organization] and going out and playing good ball. At the end of the day, if I just continue to play well, things will take care of themselves.”
Dee Snider said that JJ wasn't going to take it..
Re: JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 02 Jul 2025 20:15 pm
by Absolut
So. Where is he (upset)?
Re: JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 02 Jul 2025 21:22 pm
by Ozziesfan41
scoutyjones2 wrote: ↑02 Jul 2025 19:45 pm
Some 14 players on MLB Pipeline’s current Top 100 Prospects list have already received MLB callups this season, and six prospects hailing from the 2024 MLB Draft have been promoted to the big leagues, causing all sorts of emotions to churn inside the gut of Cardinals top prospect JJ Wetherholt.
However, after a few seconds of reasoning and reflecting, the shortstop/second baseman at Double-A Springfield who is mature beyond his years understands that all paths to the big leagues are different and that his time will come if he simply keeps on keeping on.
“It's a mix of both [emotions], for sure,” said Wetherholt, the No. 7 pick in 2024, referring to fellow draftees Chase Burns, Nick Kurtz, Jac Caglianone, Christian Moore, Cam Smith and Round 2C pick Ryan Johnson reaching the big leagues before him. “When you see that, you want some of that for yourself. But it's not how things are supposed to go now. And you don't benefit by thinking that way.
“So that's a time I can sit down, reflect and understand that I'm exactly where I should be. It fires me up to see [other promotions]. You can have those external thoughts of, ‘Oh shoot, they've been called up and I haven't,’ but that's not for me to worry about. Where my focus needs to be is trusting in the [organization] and going out and playing good ball. At the end of the day, if I just continue to play well, things will take care of themselves.”
That’s your genius boy Mo at work
Re: JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 02 Jul 2025 21:24 pm
by cardstatman
Every player promoted quicker than JJ has also played better than JJ in miLB.
career miLB stats
.344 .440 .712 1.152 1B #4 Nick Kurtz (.814 OPS in 191 PA for OAK)
.319 .370 .723 1.094 RF #6 Jac Cagliahone (.449 OPS in 99 PA for KCR)
.313 .396 .609 1.004 RF #14 Cam Smith (.777 OPS in 271 PA for HOU) -- never played OF in miLB or college
.302 .382 .475 .858 2B #8 Christian Moore (.675 OPS in 62 PA for LAA)
.300 .419 .431 .850 SS #7 JJ Wetherholt (not promoted yet after 382 miLB PA in A+ and AA and being his team's 2nd best hitter at both levels)
Re: JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 02 Jul 2025 21:43 pm
by BrockFloodMaris
cardstatman wrote: ↑02 Jul 2025 21:24 pm
Every player promoted quicker than JJ has also played better than JJ in miLB.
career miLB stats
.344 .440 .712 1.152 1B #4 Nick Kurtz (.814 OPS in 191 PA for OAK)
.319 .370 .723 1.094 RF #6 Jac Cagliahone (.449 OPS in 99 PA for KCR)
.313 .396 .609 1.004 RF #14 Cam Smith (.777 OPS in 271 PA for HOU) -- never played OF in miLB or college
.302 .382 .475 .858 2B #8 Christian Moore (.675 OPS in 62 PA for LAA)
.300 .419 .431 .850 SS #7 JJ Wetherholt (not promoted yet after 382 miLB PA in A+ and AA and being his team's 2nd best hitter at both levels)
I don’t sense any outrage in JJ. He’s doing well in AA. Not great. He’s doing fine. When Arenado leaves, his path to MLB will be clearer. I’m just not sure anything is wrong today.
Re: JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 02 Jul 2025 21:54 pm
by An Old Friend
BrockFloodMaris wrote: ↑02 Jul 2025 21:43 pm
cardstatman wrote: ↑02 Jul 2025 21:24 pm
Every player promoted quicker than JJ has also played better than JJ in miLB.
career miLB stats
.344 .440 .712 1.152 1B #4 Nick Kurtz (.814 OPS in 191 PA for OAK)
.319 .370 .723 1.094 RF #6 Jac Cagliahone (.449 OPS in 99 PA for KCR)
.313 .396 .609 1.004 RF #14 Cam Smith (.777 OPS in 271 PA for HOU) -- never played OF in miLB or college
.302 .382 .475 .858 2B #8 Christian Moore (.675 OPS in 62 PA for LAA)
.300 .419 .431 .850 SS #7 JJ Wetherholt (not promoted yet after 382 miLB PA in A+ and AA and being his team's 2nd best hitter at both levels)
I don’t sense any outrage in JJ. He’s doing well in AA. Not great. He’s doing fine. When Arenado leaves, his path to MLB will be clearer. I’m just not sure anything is wrong today.
A 146 wRC+ with more walks than strikeouts is great.
Re: JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 02 Jul 2025 22:02 pm
by fullswing
Absolut wrote: ↑02 Jul 2025 20:15 pm
So. Where is he (upset)?
He didn’t sound upset to me, either.
Re: JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 02 Jul 2025 22:11 pm
by cardstatman
An Old Friend wrote: ↑02 Jul 2025 21:54 pm
BrockFloodMaris wrote: ↑02 Jul 2025 21:43 pm
cardstatman wrote: ↑02 Jul 2025 21:24 pm
Every player promoted quicker than JJ has also played better than JJ in miLB.
career miLB stats
.344 .440 .712 1.152 1B #4 Nick Kurtz (.814 OPS in 191 PA for OAK)
.319 .370 .723 1.094 RF #6 Jac Cagliahone (.449 OPS in 99 PA for KCR)
.313 .396 .609 1.004 RF #14 Cam Smith (.777 OPS in 271 PA for HOU) -- never played OF in miLB or college
.302 .382 .475 .858 2B #8 Christian Moore (.675 OPS in 62 PA for LAA)
.300 .419 .431 .850 SS #7 JJ Wetherholt (not promoted yet after 382 miLB PA in A+ and AA and being his team's 2nd best hitter at both levels)
I don’t sense any outrage in JJ. He’s doing well in AA. Not great. He’s doing fine. When Arenado leaves, his path to MLB will be clearer. I’m just not sure anything is wrong today.
A 146 wRC+ with more walks than strikeouts is great.
Interesting facts:
- Walker is less than 4 months older than Wetherholt
- Saggese is exactly 5 months older than Wetherholt. He was a AA MVP 2 years ago.
- Winn is less than 6 months older than Wetherholt
Everybody is about done with Walker and some are already critical of Saggese. They will turn on Wetherholt quickly, too.
I don't want to dump Walker but I think he needs a long trip to AAA. Instead of dominating in college or miLB, he has just struggled in MLB.
Re: JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 02 Jul 2025 22:35 pm
by 3dender
cardstatman wrote: ↑02 Jul 2025 22:11 pm
I don't want to dump Walker but I think he needs a long trip to AAA. Instead of dominating in college or miLB, he has just struggled in MLB.
I agree, but as Future pointed out I think last week, Walker's option situation makes this tricky. If they use his last option this year, he only has 2 more months in AAA and if he hasn't solved it by then they have nothing to do but play/trade/release him next year. If they hold off on exercising the option until next year he can play the entire season at AAA.
Best case scenario may be that they ride this current "rehab"(
) stint as long as possible, get him a few weeks of reps down in the minors, then bring him back up for the rest of the year as a 4th OF. Then start him next year in AAA and leave him there until he starts actually dominating, which he hasn't done since I believe AFL in 2022.
Re: JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 02 Jul 2025 22:44 pm
by BrockFloodMaris
An Old Friend wrote: ↑02 Jul 2025 21:54 pm
BrockFloodMaris wrote: ↑02 Jul 2025 21:43 pm
cardstatman wrote: ↑02 Jul 2025 21:24 pm
Every player promoted quicker than JJ has also played better than JJ in miLB.
career miLB stats
.344 .440 .712 1.152 1B #4 Nick Kurtz (.814 OPS in 191 PA for OAK)
.319 .370 .723 1.094 RF #6 Jac Cagliahone (.449 OPS in 99 PA for KCR)
.313 .396 .609 1.004 RF #14 Cam Smith (.777 OPS in 271 PA for HOU) -- never played OF in miLB or college
.302 .382 .475 .858 2B #8 Christian Moore (.675 OPS in 62 PA for LAA)
.300 .419 .431 .850 SS #7 JJ Wetherholt (not promoted yet after 382 miLB PA in A+ and AA and being his team's 2nd best hitter at both levels)
I don’t sense any outrage in JJ. He’s doing well in AA. Not great. He’s doing fine. When Arenado leaves, his path to MLB will be clearer. I’m just not sure anything is wrong today.
A 146 wRC+ with more walks than strikeouts is great.
That’s awesome! When the Cards glut of infielders is thinned out, I’m sure he will get his shot. Maybe we will trade Nado and Noot, move Donnie to LF and create playing time for Gorman and JJ. The next four weeks should shine a light on a lot of unknowns.
Re: JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 03 Jul 2025 00:21 am
by swatski
Caglione 1 for his last 34.
Re: JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 03 Jul 2025 06:59 am
by Wattage
Absolut wrote: ↑02 Jul 2025 20:15 pm
So. Where is he (upset)?
Sounds like he was just asked a leading question along lines like how do you feel as a top prospect seeing all these others get called up while you wait here- and he just stated hed love as competitive fire to get up like those others but that he understands his time will come. Clickbait and trap questions looking for cotroversy
Looks legit
Posted: 03 Jul 2025 07:07 am
by ScotchMIrish
Walks to strikeouts are excellent but Caglianone is an example of what can go wrong. Leave him in the minors to get seasoning. Arenado is gone after next season.
Caglianone's walks to strikeouts immediately got upside down when he went from college to pro ball. Now he is chasing bad pitches.
Patience.
Re: JJ is (upset) that he isn't called up
Posted: 03 Jul 2025 07:08 am
by Gritty
Nothing about his game jumps off the screen as anything close to "special" to me. He's kinda small, only 5' 10. No elite hit tool or power of any kind, obp is solid. But kinda screams "scrappy utility infielder" imo. I mean whenever our other over-hyped Top Prospects over the years were in AA & AAA they were at least putting up the numbers that kind of justified the discussion of bringing them up. And I'm more specifically talking about Walker, Gorman, Carlson, Burleson. And to put it kindly they at a minimum all have struggled mightily with the promotion and all had more minor league seasoning than Weatherholt has. And in hindsight one can argue all the recent examples were brought much too soon and needed more minor league reps. So why on earth does it make any sense to rush him up to the big leagues at this point? Dude is still much too green to justify a call up already. Let's learn from our prior mistakes and let the kid marinade in AA & AAA for another 2 yrs before we start that conversation.