St. Louis Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt continues to make a strong case for himself in what has quickly become an impressive Rookie of the Year campaign. While the young infielder remains focused on securing the National League’s top rookie honor by the end of the season, he has already added another notable achievement to his growing résumé.
Wetherholt was recently named the Cardinals’ recipient of the 2026 Heart and Hustle Award, recognizing the energy, passion, and determination he has brought to the club throughout his first major league season.
The honor also gives Wetherholt the opportunity to take over the mantle from Brendan Donovan, who won the Cardinals’ Heart and Hustle Award in each of the previous two seasons. Donovan has established himself as an important piece for St. Louis, but Wetherholt’s arrival has provided the Cardinals with another dynamic presence in the middle infield and a spark that has helped the team exceed some of the expectations surrounding it entering the season.
JJ Wetherholt Making His Case for Rookie of the Year
The Heart and Hustle Award is already an impressive accomplishment for Wetherholt, but the former first-round pick has his sights set on an even bigger prize.
Wetherholt was among the more notable All-Star Game snubs in July, despite putting together a season that has attracted plenty of attention around baseball. Rather than allowing that omission to derail him, the Cardinals rookie has continued producing and has positioned himself as one of the leading candidates for the National League Rookie of the Year award.
Entering Friday night, Wetherholt owns a 4.5 bWAR, 16 home runs, and a 110 OPS+, numbers that demonstrate just how productive he has been during his first full season in the majors. His offensive contributions have been particularly valuable for a Cardinals lineup that has relied heavily on his ability to get on base and create opportunities for the hitters behind him.
His impact, however, goes well beyond the batter’s box.
Wetherholt has also provided St. Louis with high-level defense at second base. His range, instincts, and consistency in the field have made him look like a potential Gold Glove-caliber defender, giving him another major advantage in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
One of his biggest competitors is Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart, who has also enjoyed an outstanding offensive season.
Stewart has arguably been the more productive hitter in several traditional statistical categories, entering Friday with 25 home runs and a 122 OPS+. His biggest advantage over Wetherholt comes in the RBI department, where Stewart has driven in 87 runs compared with Wetherholt’s 43.
However, the difference is heavily influenced by their respective roles in their lineups.
Stewart has spent the season hitting in premium run-producing spots for Cincinnati, giving him far more opportunities to drive runners home. Wetherholt, meanwhile, has primarily served as the Cardinals’ table setter and has started games in the leadoff spot. His responsibility has been to reach base, set the table, and create scoring opportunities rather than consistently drive runners in.
That distinction is important when comparing their overall value.
Wetherholt has essentially operated as the engine that gets the Cardinals’ offense moving, while Stewart has been positioned as one of Cincinnati’s primary run producers. Both roles are valuable, but they require players to contribute in very different ways.
The defensive side of the comparison could ultimately become one of the most important factors. Wetherholt brings considerable defensive value at second base, while Stewart has struggled more defensively at first base, a position that generally carries fewer defensive demands.
If Wetherholt can maintain his production over the final stretch of the season, his combination of offensive consistency, defensive excellence, and overall impact could give him a compelling argument for the Rookie of the Year award.
Cardinals Looking to Turn Things Around
While Wetherholt continues his individual pursuit of postseason awards, the Cardinals are focused on a much bigger objective: getting their season back on track.
St. Louis is preparing to host the Colorado Rockies for a weekend series beginning Friday night. The Cardinals enter the matchup with some momentum after earning their first series victory of the second half by defeating the New York Yankees on Wednesday.
The club is now attempting to recover from a trade deadline in which it elected to sell and move several pieces rather than aggressively add to the roster. With the Cardinals still hoping to remain relevant in the National League Wild Card race, the final stretch of the season could provide an opportunity for younger players like Wetherholt to take on even greater responsibility.
The biggest concern for St. Louis since the All-Star break has been its offense.
The Cardinals have received several quality performances from their pitching staff but have repeatedly failed to provide enough run support. Strong outings from the rotation and bullpen have been wasted when the lineup has been unable to generate consistent offense.
That makes this upcoming series against Colorado particularly important.
The Rockies have struggled significantly on the mound and currently own the worst team ERA in Major League Baseball. For a St. Louis offense searching for consistency and confidence, facing a struggling Colorado pitching staff could represent exactly the opportunity it needs.
If the Cardinals are serious about climbing back into the Wild Card picture, their hitters will need to take advantage of favorable matchups. Wetherholt, in particular, could play a major role in that effort as St. Louis looks to turn its season around while its standout rookie continues making his case for one of baseball’s most prestigious individual awards.