Let’s talk about JJ Wetherholt’s Rookie of the Year prospects

Likely to make the Opening Day roster, Wetherholt has much riding on his success in 2026

Infielder JJ Wetherholt – the Cardinals’ top prospect and, according to Baseball America, the No. 3-ranked prospect in all of baseball right now – seems quite likely to crack the Cardinals’ active roster to start the 2026 season. The trade of Nolan Arenado to the Diamondbacks eased the infield bottleneck, and Brendan Donovan is probably out the door before spring training comes and goes. Even if he’s not, Wetherholt is probably more of a 2026 priority than Nolan Gorman is, and thus his regular playing time seems more likely to be assured in the event of a Donovan return. On another level, Donovan absent a trade would perhaps see time in left field to start the season as Lars Nootbaar continues to recover from surgery on both heels. Whatever the specifics, it’s time to ponder what realistic expectations for Wetherholt are if indeed his rookie campaign is in the immediate offing.