With the 2026 MLB regular season ending Sunday, former WVU Baseball standout JJ Wetherholt’s first MLB season is complete.
Wetherholt and the St. Louis Cardinals finished the 2026 season in tenth place in the National League standings with a final record of 77-85. Read more: JJ Wetherholt completes first season with St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cardinals were eleven games back from a playoff berth, with the 88-74 Philadelphia Phillies claiming the final wild card spot in the NL.
Although Wetherholt’s first MLB season did not end in October, the rookie has plenty to be proud of from 2026. He held a strong standing in the NL Rookie of the Year race for a majority of the season, scored a huge contract extension, and led the league in a defensive category.
Here is an overall look at his 2026 season.
Related: Five months in: Wetherholt hanging on to top NL Rookie of the Year odds
Sixth and final month of rookie campaign
Wetherholt had his least productive month in the sixth and final month of his rookie campaign. However, Wetherholt dealt with an injury this past month that landed him on the 10-day injured list for the first time in his major league career.
From August 30 to September 15, Wetherholt sat out 15 games due to right wrist tendinitis.
Overall, in the final month, Wetherholt played 12 games, adding nine hits, a double, and three RBI to his final stat line.
Wetherholt’s best two games this month came in the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates from September 22-24.
On September 23, Wetherholt had three hits in his four at bats. He recorded an RBI and a run.
On September 24, Wetherholt had a second straight multi-hit game, going 2-for-4. One of those hits was a double.
Wetherholt is a native of Mars, Pennsylvania, a city just outside of Pittsburgh. If you remember earlier this season, he hit a home run in his first professional game at PNC Park.
In his final 12 games of his rookie year, Wetherholt and the Cardinals went 3-9.
Final stats
Throughout his rookie campaign, Wetherholt played a total of 139 games and saw 537 at-bats.
Wetherholt had 130 hits, 15 of which were doubles, and 17 home runs. He scored 89 runs and had 51 RBI.
In total, Wetherholt was struck out 104 times and walked 64 times. His final batting average was .242.
Wetherholt stole 14 bases and was only caught stealing one time.
Although not a team leader in any major offensive stats, Wetherholt was top three in categories such as runs, walks, stolen bases, batting average, and on-base percentage.
Wetherholt set a few Cardinals franchise records in his rookie campaign, including most leadoff homers by a rookie (four), fielding run value (23), runs prevented (19), and outs above average (25).
Wetherholt’s 25 outs above average were also league-leading, tied with NL MVP favorite Pete Crow-Armstrong. His 23-fielding run value also tied the MLB rookie record.
Although a strange record, Wetherholt also holds the Cardinals record for most consecutive games hit by pitch (five).
Award updates
For a large portion of the season, Wetherholt held the best odds to win the 2026 NL Rookie of the Year award. If Wetherholt were to win the award, he would be the first former WVU Baseball player to do so.
Unfortunately, it is no longer likely Wetherholt will receive the honor. He was surpassed in the odds by Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart after his injury.
The current odds list Stewart as the favorite, with New York Mets rookie pitcher Nolan McLean having the second-best odds.
While this award may be out of reach for Wetherholt now, he does hold good odds to be named the NL Second Baseman Gold Glove winner. Milwaukee Brewers’ second baseman Brice Turang is also considered a favorable candidate for the award.
Wetherholt is also a likely candidate to be named to the MLB Pipeline’s 2026 All-Rookie Team.
MLB writer Anthony Castrovince named Wetherholt the best second baseman to debut this season in an article written earlier this month.
What’s next
With the Cardinals season over, Wetherholt will not be seen on the field again until spring training begins in February.
Wetherholt signed an 8-year, $112.5 million contract extension with the Cardinals this season, meaning he is under contract with the team until 2034. With incentives, the contract can reach $132 million.
Related: Former WVU Baseball standout JJ Wetherholt signs $112.5 million extension
Only one Cardinals player is expected to hit free agency this offseason, pitcher Ryne Stanek. Once the Cardinals figure out which contract it wants to tender, it is likely others will hit free agency too.
The Cardinals have promising future pieces in players such as Wetherholt, Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson, Masyn Winn, and Ivan Herrera. The Cardinals need to focus on strengthening the bullpen this offseason to compete in 2027.
Overall, I would say Wetherholt earned an A ranking for his rookie campaign. The former WVU Baseball standout holds a lot of promise as a future star in the MLB.
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