Former WVU Baseball standout JJ Wetherholt went yard tonight, helping the St. Louis Cardinals secure a 4-2 victory over his childhood team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Read more: JJ Wetherholt goes yard in first major league homecoming game.
Wetherholt grew up in Mars, Pennsylvania, just 32 miles away from the Steel City. Tonight’s ballgame was his first MLB game in his home state. WVU Baseball Head Coach Steve Sabins, players, as well as friends and family made the trip up I-79 to watch the game. Click here for their reaction to the big hit.
Related: One month in: JJ Wetherholt holding his own for Cardinals
Headed into the top of the ninth, the Pirates led 2-0 and touted a 97.4% chance to win the ball game.
The moment
It looked as if the Bucs were going to spoil Wetherholt’s homecoming. That was until Wetherholt hit a solo home run to tie the game. Following his 408-yard blast, teammate Jose Fermin doubled to score Alec Burleson and former Mountaineer Victor Scott II, taking the lead. Prior to Wetherholt’s solo homer, Pedro Pagés also went yard to start the Cardinals’ rally.
The homer was Wetherholt’s sixth of the season and second-longest. His longest came in his MLB debut on March 26, launching one 425 yards against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The current record holder in the Cardinals franchise for most home runs hit by a rookie is Albert Pujols (37). Pujols hit eight homers after his first month as a major-leaguer. While Wetherholt is only at six after his first month, he still has 134 games to chase the record.
A familiar field
Wetherholt is no stranger to PNC Park. He played there as a member of the Mountaineers in 2022 and 2024. WVU picked up victories in both contests against Pitt. His most notable play was a 2-RBI double in 2024, helping the Mountaineers to an 11-1 victory.
In 2023, JJ Wetherholt led WVU in batting average (.449), hits (101), homers (16), and RBI (60), leading to him being named the 2023 Big 12 Conference Baseball Player of the Year. Wetherholt now chases the 2026 NL Rookie of the Year Award, where he currently has the fourth best odds below Reds infielder Sal Stewart, Mets pitcher Nolan McLean, and Pirates infielder Konnor Griffin.
Wetherholt’s 2022 and 2024 seasons at WVU were also honorable, being named to the 2022 Big 12 All-Freshman Team and 2024 All-Big 12 First Team.
He played a total of 134 games in blue and gold, being named the Big 12 Player of the Week three times.
Wetherholt was drafted to the St Louis Cardinals with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He played minor league ball during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The Pennsylvanian earned the Texas League Most Valuable Player Award and International League Top MLB Prospect Award in 2025.
With many Morgantown natives rooting for the Pittsburgh Pirates due to proximity, Wetherholt’s success tonight may come as bittersweet to those. Nonetheless, Wetherholt has represented WVU well in the big leagues so far.
Wetherholt and the Cardinals return to action against the Pirates tomorrow at 6:40 p.m. for game two of the four-game series.
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