JJ Wetherholt’s first full pro season was a smash hit. Now, can Wetherholt make the Cardinals’ 2026 Opening Day roster? He’ll have the chance to do so, as the 23-year-old infielder was one of many players to be invited to big league camp on January 26.
The prospects
The big name among the group is JJ Wetherholt, the Cardinals’ 2024 first-round pick. Wetherholt was on the shortlist of potential 1-1 picks in 2024 but missed a lot of that season due to injury. Less than two years later, Wetherholt’s stock has only risen since St. Louis took him seventh overall.
Between Double-A and Triple-A, Wetherholt slashed .306/.421/.510 with 17 home runs, 23 stolen bases, and 47 extra-base hits over 109 games. Ten of those home runs came in 47 contests with Triple-A Memphis.
Wetherholt’s numbers in Triple-A were something to behold. The 23-year-old posted a Barrel% (12.3%) that ranked among the top 10% of all Triple-A players. Extremely low chase (18.6%), and didn’t swing-and-miss (24.2%) much, either.
Last season, Wetherholt started 61 games at short. However, he also saw time at second and third. It’s worth noting that, as the Cardinals have shortstop taken care of with Masyn Winn. However, Wetherholt’s versatility could make it easier to slot him in the Opening Day 2026 lineup — if he can earn it.
Former first-rounder Chase Davis was among the group of non-roster invites last spring. He’ll be back for 2026. However, his stock has taken a tumble since the spring of 2025. Last season, Davis slashed .242/.358/.353 with 10 home runs and 26 extra-base hits over 113 games.
Aside from the high Whiff% (32.8%), Davis hit a lot of groundballs (49.4% GB% in 2025). That, on its own, is not a dealbreaker by any means. But mind you, this was a player who hit 21 home runs with the Arizona Wildcats in the 2023 collegiate season.
One positive in Davis’ game is that he’ll work counts. He had one of the 35 highest take rates (58.5%) in the Texas League and was one of several Springfield Cardinals to do so. JJ Wetherholt (58.3%) and Ramon Mendoza (58.2%), the latter of whom was also invited to camp, were, as well.
Blaze Jordan, the power-hitting infielder acquired last summer by the Red Sox, will also be in camp.
Additionally, the Cardinals’ group of non-roster hitters includes catchers Graysen Tarlow and Andy Yerzy, longtime Cardinals Minor League outfielder Mike Antico, Matt Koperniak, and infielders Brody Moore and Jeremy Rivas.
Rivas, a 21-year-old infielder, sported one of the 20 highest Whiff% (35.7%) in the Texas League last season.
As for the pitchers, Quinn Mathews will be back in Jupiter for another spring. Last season in Triple-A, the left-hander struck out 107 over 94 innings. However, he walked 74 batters with the Redbirds.
The good news is that Mathews (34.8%) was still missing plenty of bats. However, the walks were a major red flag for Mathews, who was one of the highest-rising pitchers in the Minors two years ago.
Speaking of high risers, changeup master Luis Gastelum will look to join a Cardinals bullpen that boasted a lot of talent despite the offload of talent in the summer. Gastelum struck out 92 over 62.2 IP and posted the highest Whiff% (36.9%) in the Texas League last season.
Other pitchers invited to camp were Austin Love, a former third-round pick who sported a 36% Whiff% in Double-A last season, Pete Hansen, Skylar Hales, Ixan Henderson, Gerson Moreno, and Max Rajcic.
Other notables
St. Louis signed former Royals outfielder Nelson Velázquez and former first-round pick Zack Thompson to Minor League deals. Both received an invite.
Thompson pitched in parts of three seasons with the Cardinals, from 2022 through 2024. He didn’t pitch at all last season, as the left-hander was sidelined with a shoulder strain in the spring and never activated.
Two seasons ago, Thompson struck out 108 batters over 90 innings with Triple-A Memphis.
Velázquez only played 51 games last season, spent between the Royals and Pirates’ Triple-A affiliates. The 27-year-old slashed .202/.298/.377 with 11 home runs and 17 extra-base hits.
Those players will join Scott Blewett, Jared Shuster, Sem Robberse, and Bruce Zimmermann, who are also among the players going to Jupiter as non-roster invitees. Packy Naughton will also be in camp.
Check out more of our MLB coverage, including a look at who the Nationals invited to camp this year.