St. Louis Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt is working toward a return before the 2026 regular season comes to an end, although there is still no guarantee that the young infielder will be able to get back on the field.
Wetherholt was enjoying an impressive first season in the major leagues before a right wrist injury interrupted his campaign. The Cardinals placed him on the injured list after he developed right wrist tendinitis, and the issue has kept him out of action since August 30. He has already received an injection to help manage the pain and is now progressing through the rehabilitation process.
Despite the setback, Wetherholt remains hopeful that he can return in time to appear during the Cardinals’ final homestand of the season. St. Louis is scheduled to conclude its home schedule on September 20 against the Washington Nationals, giving the rookie a relatively short window in which to prove that he is ready to play again.
The Cardinals are being cautious with their young star, particularly because of the importance of his long-term role with the organization. Wetherholt recently agreed to an eight-year, $112.5 million contract extension that could keep him in St. Louis through the 2034 season. With that commitment in place, there is little reason for the team to take unnecessary risks with his recovery.
Wetherholt recently took another encouraging step in his rehabilitation. He hit against a pitching machine at Busch Stadium on Friday and is expected to repeat the exercise. Those sessions should provide the Cardinals with more information about how his wrist is responding to baseball activities and whether he can progress toward more demanding work.
The rookie has made it clear that he would like to return this season, but he also understands that his recovery will ultimately determine whether that happens.
“It’s really all up to how I feel and how I go about things during the rehab process,” Wetherholt said.
He added that he obviously wants to play again before the 2026 season ends and is doing everything possible to give himself an opportunity to return.
Manager Oli Marmol, however, has stressed that there is currently no specific timetable for Wetherholt’s comeback. The organization intends to evaluate him carefully rather than set an arbitrary return date.
Wetherholt is expected to complete a full pregame routine on Tuesday. The Cardinals will then assess how he responds before making a decision on Wednesday. That evaluation could determine whether the rookie has a realistic chance of appearing in the final games of the season.
The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate because Wetherholt had established himself as one of the most promising young players on the Cardinals roster. Before going down, he was considered one of the leading candidates for National League Rookie of the Year, and his performance has continued to support that reputation even with the lengthy absence.
St. Louis also has little incentive to rush him back. Following a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox, the Cardinals moved to 74-76 on the season. They remain seven games behind the third National League Wild Card position, making a postseason comeback extremely unlikely.
The Padres currently occupy that Wild Card spot, while the Arizona Diamondbacks are two games behind them. Unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the standings, St. Louis is on course to miss the postseason for a fifth consecutive year.
That situation gives the Cardinals another reason to prioritize Wetherholt’s long-term health over a handful of games at the end of September. If the medical staff believes there is any significant risk involved, the organization could simply shut him down and allow him to focus on preparing for 2027.
Still, a return would provide Wetherholt with a chance to put a finishing touch on what has already been a memorable rookie campaign.
He entered the season as a highly regarded prospect and quickly demonstrated why the Cardinals were so excited about his future. His defense has been particularly impressive. Wetherholt has accumulated more than 1,000 defensive innings at second base while recording +13 Defensive Runs Saved and +21 Outs Above Average.
His OAA figure has been especially remarkable. Among qualified second basemen, his 21 Outs Above Average ranks first, well ahead of Brandon Lowe’s 14. His defensive production has also placed him among the very best fielders in all of Major League Baseball.
Only Pete Crow-Armstrong, with 25 OAA, and Bobby Witt Jr., with 23, rank ahead of Wetherholt across all positions. For a player in his first major league season, that level of defensive production is a significant accomplishment.
Wetherholt has also provided the Cardinals with useful offensive production. Through 586 plate appearances, he has posted a .242/.343/.370 batting line while hitting 17 home runs.
Although certain elements of his offensive profile remain a work in progress, there are encouraging signs. His bat speed and barrel percentage are slightly below league average, but he has consistently demonstrated an ability to make quality contact.
His 89.9 mph exit velocity and 44.8% hard-hit rate both rank above average, suggesting that there could be additional offensive upside in his game. His 16.2% strikeout rate is another positive indicator, showing that he has generally done a good job of controlling his at-bats despite being a rookie.
Wetherholt has also contributed on the basepaths, stealing 14 bases during the season. When his defensive ability, contact skills, power potential and speed are considered together, the Cardinals have plenty of reasons to believe he can become an important piece of their lineup for years to come.
There is also the possibility that his offensive numbers could improve significantly if some of his batted-ball results become more favorable. With his ability to make hard contact, additional power could emerge as he gains more major league experience and continues developing his approach at the plate.
Looking ahead to 2027, the Cardinals appear to have several young offensive players they can build around. Wetherholt is expected to be part of that group alongside Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker.
Masyn Winn also remains an important part of the team’s future, particularly because of his defensive ability at shortstop. However, the Cardinals are likely to explore ways to strengthen the roster during the offseason, with additional help at third base and on the pitching staff potentially becoming priorities.
For now, though, the focus remains on Wetherholt’s wrist and whether he can safely return before the season ends.
The Cardinals have no reason to jeopardize the long-term health of a player they have invested so heavily in. If Wetherholt responds positively to his upcoming baseball activities, he could still have an opportunity to appear in the final stretch of the season.
If he cannot return, his 2026 campaign will nevertheless stand as an impressive introduction to the major leagues. After establishing himself as one of the Cardinals’ most valuable young players, Wetherholt has already given the organization plenty of reasons to be optimistic about what comes next.
Whether he gets a few more games this September or waits until next season, the Cardinals will be hoping that their highly regarded rookie can fully recover and enter 2027 healthy, confident and ready to take another step forward.
