The St. Louis Cardinals are have something special in JJ Wetherholt.

The Cardinals' system has already made great strides under their new player development regime, though injuries dinged them some in 2025.

Wetherholt has a clear path to the Cardinals ' second-base job following the trade of Brendan Donovan, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The St. Louis Cardinals very well could have a star duo on the way.

One of Major League Baseball's most promising young prospects, shortstop JJ Wetherholt, will not be able to play for Team South Korea at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The top-rated St. Louis Cardinals prospect r elayed the news to reporters in St. Louis on Sunday, according to Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency.

Wetherholt, who was drafted as a shortstop and has played there primarily in his two minor league seasons, said his lifelong comfort at second would make for a smooth transition and that he has been focused more on his work at third base, simply due to lack of familiarity.

Cardinals prospect JJ Wetherholt walks out the front door of his high school, where he is greeted by two young men who have been waiting for their chance. "JJ, would you sign these for me?" one of them implores, extending a pair of baseball cards and a black Sharpie. Wetherholt quickly obliges, shakes their hands and heads for his truck.

Similar to MLB Pipeline, McDaniel gave the St. Louis Cardinals five prospects inside the Top 100 including infielder JJ Wetherholt (7), catcher Rainiel Rodriguez (19), pitcher Liam Doyle (50), outfielder Joshua Baez (93) and catcher Leonardo Bernal (98).

JJ Wetherholt has proven he can hit across three levels in the minor leagues and hopes to make his MLB debut in the near future.