Cardinals' top prospect earns first preseason honor of 2026
JJ Wetherholt is predicted as a favorite for NL Rookie of the Year award.
MLB service‑time manipulation — the practice where teams delay calling up a top prospect so they gain an extra year of club control before the player reaches arbitration or free agency. The Cardinals under John Mozeliak have often been accused by fans of doing this with their rookies, even though MLB rules technically allow it.
Rookie eligibility — players lose rookie status after certain thresholds of at‑bats, innings, or 45 days of active service time.
Arbitration eligibility — when a player can start earning real money instead of league minimum
No Pressure
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