Latest news with #JJWetherholt
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3 days ago
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Cardinals Farm Report: No. 3 Tink Hence Ramping Up Rehab After Lengthy Absence
Cardinals Farm Report: No. 3 Tink Hence Ramping Up Rehab After Lengthy Absence originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Despite the St. Louis Cardinals' recent skid at the big league level, the team's minor league system displayed some bright spots last week. Advertisement Here's a look at some of the top players from last week along with an update on one of the team's top prospects: Mike Antico, Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A) Antico had a productive week at the plate, hitting 6-for-16 (.375) with a double and a home run to drive in six and score twice. The 27-year-old reached base via walk three times to push his on base percentage to .474 while racking up a 1.099 OPS. Antico, a career minor league, is making a push for the big leagues this season, leading qualified Memphis hitters with a .320 average. JJ Wetherholt, Springfield Cardinals (Double-A) The Cardinals' top prospect continued his torment of Double-A opponents on both sides of the ball last week. In five games, Wetherholt collected seven hits, three doubles, five walks, three RBI, two runs and two stolen bases and slashed .412/.545/.588/1.133. The 22-year-old top prospect also showed off his defensive prowess with a diving stop at short. Advertisement Nathan Church, Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A) Since being called up to Memphis on June 3, Church has been on a tear at the dish. In 10 games at Triple-A, the team's No. 21 prospect is carrying a .425 average with 17 hits, five walks and four stolen bases for seven runs scored. He had a .964 OPS in that span. St. Louis Cardinals No. 3 prospect Tink Hence pitches during a spring relief appearance on Feb. Navarro-Imagn Images Player to keep an eye on: Tink Hence, Peoria Chiefs (High-A) Hence, the team's No. 3 prospect, began his rehab stint on June 2 after starting the year on the 60-day injured list with a right rib cage strain. The 22-year-old flamethrower completed one inning with the Rookie-Ball Florida Coast League Cardinals, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out one. His next start came with the Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals in which he struck out six batters and allowed just one hit and hit one batter over 2 2/3 innings of work. Advertisement Hence took a step back in his most recent rehab appearance which was one level higher with the High-A Peoria Chiefs. In 3 2/3 innings pitched, he allowed two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out just one batter. Related: MLB to Celebrate Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar, Other Japanese Players with Custom Manhole Covers Related: Cardinals' Brendan Donovan IL Decision Delayed Amid Crucial Weekend Series This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
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3 days ago
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Cardinals Farm System Receives Interesting Ranking
Cardinals Farm System Receives Interesting Ranking originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Bleacher Report MLB's June farm system rankings were released on Wednesday, placing the St. Louis Cardinals' system in the middle of the pack at No. 15. Advertisement Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report broke down each team's top ten prospects into five tiers based on each prospect's ranking in BR's Top 100 Prospects list or if they appear at all. The Cardinals top ten prospects don't crack the top ten in the system rankings - and they have just one "Tier 1" player in JJ Wetherholt, which means he's ranked 1-25 in the Top 100 - but they still sit above 15 teams in terms of prospect quality. With only three prospects in BR's top 100 (Wetherholt, No. 25, Quinn Mathews, No. 64 and Tekoah Roby, No. 88), the team ranks last among NL Central teams on the list. Sunset view of Busch Stadium as St. Louis Cardinals reliever John King pitches against the Kansas City Royals on June 5. Jeff Curry-Imagn Images Despite the middle-of-the-pack ranking, the team and Cardinals' fans still have a lot of success to look forward to as many of the team's top ten prospects are having break-out seasons in the minor leagues. Advertisement Wetherholt leads the Double-A Texas League with a .322 average, Roby started solid in Double-A with a 2.49 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 47 innings which prompted the team to promote the young righty to Triple-A on June 11 and BR's No. 5 Leonardo Bernal is leading the Texas League with 11 home runs and 41 RBI - and that's just in the Cardinals' top five. Players like Thomas Saggese, Rainiel Rodriguez and Michael McGreevy are also overperforming at their respective levels, further bolstering the growing anticipation for more young talent to reach the big league level. With the fifth overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Cardinals will certainly be adding more excitement to an already exhilarating farm system. Related: Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt Talks Development, More in Exclusive Interview Related: MLB Announces Major Yadier Molina News on Wednesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
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3 days ago
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Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt Talks Development, More in Exclusive Interview
Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt Talks Development, More in Exclusive Interview originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In months, St. Louis Cardinals' No. 1 prospect JJ Wetherholt has not just acclimated himself to Double-A - he's excelled. Advertisement The 22-year-old middle infielder has racked up 55 hits (13 doubles, one triple), four home runs, 24 RBIs, 30 runs scored and five stolen bases in 48 games with the Springfield Cardinals. He also leads the Texas League with a .322 average and .443 on base percentage. Wetherholt spoke with Athlon Sports on Tuesday about his development and more: St. Louis Cardinals No. 1 prospect stands with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred after being selected 7th overall in the 2024 MLB Jairaj-Imagn Images What's been the biggest difference in the jump from Low-A to Double-A? "Obviously competition. Everyone just is more polished here. I think you get similar stuff profiles in Single-A - you have a lot of raw talent there - but guys here are just stuff-plus - more professional, more command on the mound, better at hitting and fielding. Really just everything is a step up, but it's been a lot of fun adjusting." Advertisement What's an aspect of your game that you're striving to develop this season? "(I've been trying to) continue to grow on the bases. I had a very good foundation in college, but just trying to find a way to take that to the next level." With an abundance of middle infielders in the organization, are you open to moving positions if it means getting your shot? "I really don't care. I'll play anywhere, but obviously my focus right now is to just become the best shortstop and middle infielder as I can and continue to develop as a player and then whatever happens, happens. I'm open to anything." What's the best piece of advice you've gotten in your career? "Keep your strengths, your strengths. Know that (your strengths) are what make you the best player possible. It's easy to hone in on what you're not good at but staying locked into what you're good at and trying to do that every day is what's going to get you where you want to go.' Advertisement Praises from Springfield Cardinals' Teammates Cardinals No. 6 prospect Leonardo Bernal and No. 9 prospect Chase Davis also spoke to Athlon Sports about Wetherholt's impact on the team this season, sharing feelings that the top prospect's talent matched with his personable character have aided in Springfield's success through the first half of the season. What are your thoughts on seeing fellow 2024 top 10 picks Jac Caglionone, Christian Moore and Nick Kurtz already making their MLB Debut? "It's great. I know a lot of those guys, so I'm super excited for them. It was a really good draft class, I thought, so to see them have a ton of success in the minors ... is so cool to see." Advertisement When that day comes for you, who will be in attendance? "Hopefully anyone who can come. My family, my parents ... but that'll come when it comes and hopefully I'll have a good (amount) of people there, but obviously we've got different focuses right now, so I'm just trying to keep that going." Related: Cardinals vs White Sox: How to Watch and What to Watch for Related: Cardinals Farm Report: No. 3 Tink Hence Ramping Up Rehab After Lengthy Absence This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
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Healthy Wetherholt sparking Cardinals
Hello everyone I'm Dan Lucy on the Ozarks First digital desk. The Springfield Cardinals have heated up in the month of May. And the Cardinals took a five game winning streak into the holiday weekend in Tulsa. Springfield has a roster full of prospects, and that includes the St. Louis Cardinals first pick from last June's draft, J.J. Wetherholt. Wetherholt has been getting used to life in the Texas League. He's hitting .291 with three homers and 32 hits. Wetherholt is from Mars, not the planet. But the town, Mars, Pennsylvania. He says the recent winning streak is a result of the team coming together. J.J. Wetherholt/Cardinals second baseman: (says the team never quits) The biggest key for any athlete is to stay healthy. And Wetherholt had to battle through some adversity in late April. It was not a injury to his body, but an illness that tapped his strength and tested his will. Wetherholt: (says he's never been that sick during a season) Now that he's feeling better, Wetherholt is starting to pick up his offense. The 22-year old had back to back homers in the Cardinals last home stand against Amarillo. And collected three hits and scored four runs in the first three games in Tulsa. And Wetherholt says Springfield and Hammons Field is a great place for him to be at this moment in his career. Wetherholt: (says its a great stadium and city) J.J. Wetherholt and the Springfield Cardinals will be back at Hammons Field the last week of May with Northwest Arkansas coming back to town. For more sports watch Ozarks First news at nine and ten. And I'll see you then. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
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Wetherholt heating up as Springfield stops the Soddies
SPRINGFIELD, Mo–The Springfield Cardinals wrapped up their home stand Sunday afternoon against Amarillo. This will be the last time these two teams play in the regular season. And the Cardinals were looking for their ninth win in the 12 games played between the two teams. J.J. Wetherholt would jump start the baby birds in the first. He rips this rocket to right, way over the fence and off the Mercy sign, oh mercy, a two run shot, it's 2-0. It was 3-0 Springfield in the fourth when Ramon Mendoza singles to left R.J. Yeager scores it's 4-0. The Sod Poodles get one back in the fifth, Ivan Melendez takes this deep to left, into the bullpen, a solo shot it's 4-1. But Chase Davis gets that back in the bottom half, this single to center scores Leonardo Bernal, 5-1. Springfield wins 6-1, afterwards I caught up with the St. Louis' top prospect who's hit two home runs in the last two games. 'It's been a lot of fun doing what I try to do. Control the zone, look for my certain spots, pitches that I want to be on. Just let everything else take care of itself in the box. We've been doing that pretty well. We've had some good plans. And just put some good swings on some balls. It's one of those things. There are so many ups and downs in a season, it's so long. You have to put it behind you and keep doing what you're doing. Create a plan each day and go to work,' said Wetherholt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
