Cardinals Top Draft Choice Last Year Headed To MLB All-Star Futures Game
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The St. Louis Cardinals spent the seventh overall selection in last year's draft on West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt, a player who was thought to be in contention for the first overall selection at the beginning of last year's collegiate season. Now he is headed to Atlanta for the MLB All-Star Futures Game.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 14: Major League Baseball commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. congratulates JJ Wetherholt, selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the the 2024 MLB Draft at Cowtown...
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 14: Major League Baseball commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. congratulates JJ Wetherholt, selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the the 2024 MLB Draft at Cowtown Coliseum on July 14, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. More
Photo byWetherholt has spent this season with Double-A Springfield and, entering Monday, has a slash line of .305/.430/.453. Wetherholt has torn up the Texas League this year and has earned the opportunity to showcase his talent in front of a national audience during All-Star Weekend.
Wetherholt is the Cardinals' No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and has an ETA of next season, but with the current logjam in the middle infield for the Cardinals, his arrival could be delayed.
This is also the ninth straight season that the Double-A affiliate of the Cardinals will be sending a player to the Futures Game. Two of the other 11 selections remain in the Cardinals' top-30 prospects, and one of the selections, Masyn Winn, is putting together a case to win the Gold Glove at shortstop in the National League.
Winn broke onto the scene during his Futures Game with his rocket right arm firing 100 mph across the diamond from shortstop. Wetherholt has the same chance to make a statement and let the rest of the league know he is coming.
Wetherholt's future position with the Cardinals is up in the air with Winn solidifying his job as the big league shortstop, but the Cardinals' top prospect is making waves and is on his way to the majors.
More MLB: Red Sox Manager Alex Cora Gives Encouraging Update On Slugging Outfielder
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