With the seventh pick in the 2024 MLB draft, the St. Louis Cardinals chose JJ Wetherholt, regarded as one of the top pure hitters in the draft.
JJ Wetherholt was the standout hitter in college baseball in 2023, achieving a batting line of .449/.517/.787 for the Mountaineers. His stellar performance earned him several All-American nominations from various sources and made him a finalist for both the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award. However, a hamstring injury early in the season caused him to miss 24 games, leading to a slide in the draft. Despite the setback, Wetherholt still managed impressive numbers upon his return, hitting .331/.472/.589 over 36 games.
Scouts praised Wetherholt’s consistent ability to make solid contact, calling him “the best pure hitter in the class.” MLB.com highlighted his talents, giving him a 65 grade for hitting on the 20-80 scale.
“The left-handed batter excels at driving the ball to all fields with authority, thanks to his exceptional pitch recognition and elite bat-to-ball skills, which led to a remarkably low 10 percent miss rate in 2023 with the Mountaineers. He has demonstrated the capability to hit home runs in any direction and is expected to have at least average power at the next level.”
As my colleague Kareem Haq noted, one criticism of Wetherholt’s game is his defense. Although he can manage the shortstop position at the collegiate level, Wetherholt is better suited for second base due to his lack of arm strength. While scouting director Randy Flores mentioned that Wetherholt will play shortstop in the minors, this decision is intended to utilize his infield versatility. Ultimately, second base is likely to be Wetherholt’s primary position moving forward.
The St. Louis Cardinals’ choice of JJ Wetherholt at seventh overall is an excellent one. Some media outlets, including Baseball America, MLB.com, and ESPN, ranked Wetherholt as the top pick. The Cardinals are acquiring a talented young player who excels in making contact compared to his peers.
