JJ Wetherholt: Cardinals' New Rookie Star

0:00It's March 26, I'm Cory with the story, this is MLB News Today driven by AI and built for baseball fans. St. Louis Cardinals fans have a new start to watch as their number one prospect, J.J. Weatherholt, makes his major lead debut. The young infielder earned his spot with a strong spring training, posting a 780 OPS, two home runs, and a 386 on base percentage. Fans are sky high for the 23-year-old right from the start. Experts are already buzzing about his potential. Former big league general manager Jim Bowden predicts Weatherholt will take home the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2000, 26. Analysts from USA Today in ESPN agree, naming him their top pick for the honor. The hype matches the projections. The graph sees him hitting 254 with a 340 on base and 367 slugging, plus 11 home runs. 72 RBIs and 15 stolen bases over 136 games.

1:04That kind of output could put him in elite company. Weatherholt joins a solid lineup, including 24-year-old shortstop Mass and Win, who led the National League in defense last year, and is now fully healthy. Together, they form a promising core for the Cardinals. If Weatherholt delivers, he could become the first Cardinal to win Rookie of the Year since Albert Poohol's back in 2001, signaling a bright, new era for the team.