Top Cardinals prospect JJ Wetherholt, Mars graduate, makes impact in MLB All-Star Futures Game
Playing on a national stage Saturday, Mars graduate and St. Louis Cardinals Triple-A farmhand JJ Wetherholt demonstrated the talent that makes him the club’s No. 1 prospect.
Wetherholt went 1-for-4 while hitting from the leadoff spot for the National League team in MLB’s All-Star Futures game in Atlanta. He roped a first-inning offering from Cleveland Guardians pitching prospect Parker Messick for a line-drive double with a 105.9 mph exit velocity.
The NL wound up winning 4-2.
The Athletic’s Keith Law was impressed by Wetherholt’s showing.
“Cardinals shortstop JJ Wetherholt played the whole game, first as the DH and then as a second baseman,” Law said. “He had two of the hardest-hit balls of the day, a double to left-center on a slider from a lefty and a lineout to center on 95 middle-away. I’m not surprised — he can hit, always has when healthy — but it’s good to see him do it against premium stuff.”
Wetherholt, the No. 18 prospect in baseball according to MLB.com, slashed .300/.425/.466 and had seven home runs and 34 RBIs in 62 games with Double-A Springfield before being promoted to Triple-A Memphis.
