The 2026 National League Rookie of the Year race is shaping up to be a compelling one. MLB Pipeline recently surveyed executives across the league, asking which rookie they believe has the strongest chance to take home the award. The clear favorite emerging from that poll was St. Louis Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt.
According to the voting results, three players separated themselves from the rest of the field. Wetherholt led all candidates with 30.2% of the vote. Mets prospect Nolan McLean followed closely at 25.6%, while Pirates standout Konnor Griffin came in third at 18.9%. No other player cracked double digits, with Bubba Chandler’s 7% being the next highest total.
Wetherholt, now 23, was the Cardinals’ first-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft after starring at the University of West Virginia. Once viewed as a potential No. 1 overall selection, he slid to St. Louis at seventh overall. He became the fifth college hitter taken in that draft, trailing Travis Bazzana, Charlie Condon, Nick Kurtz, and Jac Caglianone.
So far, that selection looks like a major win for the Cardinals. In his first professional season, Wetherholt thrived across Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis, posting a .306/.421/.510 line with 17 home runs and 23 stolen bases. FanGraphs credits him with a 152 wRC+, indicating his offensive production was 52% better than the league average.
JJ Wetherholt’s 2026 Outlook
By the end of the 2025 campaign, MLB Pipeline ranked Wetherholt as the No. 5 prospect in all of baseball. After his strong showing at the upper levels of the minors, he appears close to earning a full-time major league role.
That potential promotion creates some important decisions for the Cardinals. If Wetherholt opens the season on the big league roster and goes on to win Rookie of the Year, St. Louis would receive an additional first-round draft pick. Paired with their own Top 30 selection, that bonus could significantly accelerate the organization’s rebuild.
How Chaim Bloom and the front office handle second baseman Brendan Donovan may provide insight into their plans. Moving Donovan could clear a direct path for Wetherholt in 2026. The Red Sox, Giants, and Mariners have all been connected to Donovan, and discussions with Seattle reportedly included prospects Jurrangelo Cjintje and Lazaro Montes.
Even if Wetherholt does not capture Rookie of the Year honors, he could still earn the Cardinals draft compensation through the Prospect Promotion Incentive. To do so, he would need to finish in the Top 5 of National League MVP voting during one of his three pre-arbitration seasons from 2026 through 2028. Only Bobby Witt Jr. has accomplished that feat, doing so with the Royals in 2024.
JJ Wetherholt’s Fit With the Cardinals
During his first season in the Cardinals’ system, Wetherholt spent most of his time at shortstop, starting 61 of his 93 games there. However, Masyn Winn currently occupies that position and solidified his hold on it by winning a Gold Glove in 2025.
While Wetherholt may project as the better offensive player, Winn’s elite defense makes him difficult to displace. Since the start of the 2024 season, Winn has accumulated 7.4 fWAR and remains under team control through 2029, making him a key piece beyond the current rebuild.
As a result, the expectation is that Wetherholt and Winn will eventually form the Cardinals’ long-term middle-infield tandem. With Winn anchoring the defense and Wetherholt providing impact offense, the pairing has the potential to be one of the stronger double-play combinations in the league. Once established, Wetherholt is also expected to settle into a prominent spot in the lineup, likely hitting in the top third of the order.