JJ Wetherholt was drafted 7th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft and enters 2026 as baseball’s #5 prospect (#3 via Baseball America), with a good chance to make the roster out of camp.

He hits the ball well, with an ability to manipulate the barrel to consistently hit the ball hard. He doesn’t generate much exit velocity, but because of his ability to get the barrel to the ball and drive it to all angles, Wetherholt has been able to generate double-digit home run power. He also has plus speed and is a smart baserunner, so a 20-20 season is very possible at the next level.

Wetherholt is a solid defender and has been a primary shortstop since his final year at West Virginia, but he is not likely to play short in the Majors due to Masyn Winn being a better defender. Because of that, he’s taken reps at second and third base, and has shown proficiency at both spots. Due to his 5’9 frame, second base seems like the likeliest spot for St. Louis’ top prospect.

Some scouts and analysts are comping Wetherholt to Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, and I understand why: lefty, high barrel rate, and an ability to move around the infield. But, given these aspects, and also accounting for his size (Henderson is 6’3) and likelihood to end up at second, I think the close comp would be Chase Utley. Like Utley, Wetherholt has wowed scouts at all levels with a “professional hitter” approach. He share’s Utley’s elite bat control, efficient swing, and high baseball IQ, which accounts for his ability to drive the ball to all fields and take advantage of angles for extra bases.

Sometimes with these comps, I have a gut reaction based on something I see on tape that I don’t always go with initially. Chase Utley is the thinking man’s answer. The stats are there. But the second I saw Wetherholt’s tape, three more infielders popped to mind: Jed Lowrie, Dustin Pedroia, and David Eckstein. I think if Wetherholt manages to have a career like any of the guys I’ve mentioned, the Cardinals would welcome JJ to Busch Stadium for years to come.