JJ Wetherholt is turning what was meant to be a St. Louis Cardinals rebuilding year into something far more interesting.
The rookie second baseman did not just help St. Louis past Kansas City.
He put his name alongside two of the most important players in franchise history.
JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals record links rookie with Albert Pujols
OptaSTATS noted that Wetherholt’s two-homer game against the Royals made him just the third Cardinals rookie with two multi-homer games before July.
“JJ Wetherholt recorded his second career multi-HR game today against the Royals. He’s the third Cardinals rookie with two multi-HR games prior to July, joining Albert Pujols in 2001 and Ken Boyer in 1955.”
That is a serious list. Pujols’ 2001 rookie campaign is one of the best ever, ending with National League Rookie of the Year honors after he hit .329 with 37 homers and 130 RBI. Boyer grew into a Cardinals cornerstone, an 11-time All-Star and the 1964 NL MVP.
Wetherholt has a long way to go before comparisons start to mean more than a fun historical note. But the company matters, and St. Louis does not hand out Pujols-adjacent praise lightly.
Against Kansas City, Wetherholt went 3-for-5 with a leadoff homer, a two-run shot in the second and three RBI as the Cardinals held on for a 12-10 win. Masyn Winn and Ivan Herrera also hit three-run homers, helping St. Louis avoid a sweep in a wild I-70 rivalry game.
JJ Wetherholt’s stats show Cardinals’ future arriving early
Wetherholt’s rookie season already looks more than real.
The 23-year-old is hitting .268 with 12 home runs, 34 RBI, eight stolen bases, and a .798 OPS. He entered pro ball as St. Louis’ No. 7 overall pick in 2024 after starring at West Virginia, where he won the Division I batting title with a .449 average in 2023.
Now he is producing in the majors while playing second base for a team that looks more competitive than anyone expected. The Cardinals are 41-34, second in the NL Central and holding a National League wild-card spot, not bad for a club that was supposed to be in transition.
That makes Wetherholt more than a highlight clip. Alongside Winn, Jordan Walker, Herrera, Alec Burleson, and Lars Nootbaar, he is part of a young core keeping St. Louis in the playoff race without sacrificing the bigger picture.
Pujols comparisons can become unfair quickly. The better read is simpler: Wetherholt is giving Cardinals fans a rookie season worth remembering now, not just years from now.
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