JJ Wetherholt wasn't guaranteed a spot on the St. Louis Cardinals' Opening Day roster, but the team decided to roll the dice on this promising talent.
And they didn't hesitate to make a statement, placing him at the top of the lineup right out of the gate. Wetherholt is now chasing a piece of history that hasn't been touched since the legendary Albert Pujols burst onto the scene in 2001.
Back then, Pujols took home the NL Rookie of the Year honors, and if Wetherholt maintains his hot start, he could be in the mix to join that elite company. With a slash line of .280/.321/.400 through the first six games, he's already making waves.
His presence was felt immediately, and just two days after launching his first Major League homer, Wetherholt delivered a clutch game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth against Rays pitcher Griffin Jax. This made him the first Cardinals rookie to achieve such a feat since Lars Nootbaar did it back in 2021.
Wetherholt's rise wasn't out of nowhere. He was consistently ranked as a top-10 prospect across various lists this offseason. Despite the Cardinals appearing more like a team in transition rather than a contender, there was speculation that Wetherholt might start in Triple-A to manage his service time and allow for more seasoning.
However, the Cardinals saw enough potential to keep him in the majors, and he's proving them right with every swing. Wetherholt is showing that he's not just ready to play at this level-he's ready to thrive.