The St. Louis Cardinals could still get an unexpected boost from one of the most important young players on their roster before the 2026 season officially comes to an end. Rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt is working his way back from a right wrist injury and remains hopeful that he can return during the club’s final homestand.
Wetherholt has been sidelined since August 30 after being placed on the injured list with right wrist tendinitis. The injury required a pain-relieving injection, forcing the Cardinals to take a cautious approach with a player who has quickly established himself as a major part of the organization’s future.
Despite missing time, Wetherholt remains firmly in the conversation for National League Rookie of the Year. His first full major-league season has exceeded expectations in several areas, particularly defensively, and a return before the end of September would give him an opportunity to put a final positive chapter on an impressive debut campaign.
The rookie has already resumed baseball activities. Wetherholt progressed to hitting off a pitching machine at Busch Stadium on Friday and planned to repeat the workout the following day. His target is to potentially return during the Cardinals’ final homestand, which concludes September 20 against the Washington Nationals.
However, the Cardinals are not rushing the process.
Wetherholt Has His Eyes on a September Return
Wetherholt has made it clear that he wants to play again this season, but he also understands that his recovery will ultimately determine whether that happens.
The young infielder indicated that his return depends largely on how his wrist responds as he advances through the rehabilitation process. While he would obviously prefer to be back on the field rather than watching from the sidelines, the priority is making sure he is healthy enough to compete without putting himself at greater risk.
Cardinals manager Oli Marmol has also stressed that there is currently no firm timetable for Wetherholt’s return.
The next major checkpoint will come when Wetherholt goes through a complete pregame routine Tuesday. The Cardinals are then expected to evaluate how his wrist responds before making a decision Wednesday about whether he is ready for game action.
That cautious approach makes sense given Wetherholt’s importance to the organization.
Cardinals Have Little Reason to Take Risks
St. Louis’ current position in the standings also changes the equation.
Following Sunday’s 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, with the San Diego Padres currently holding that spot and the Arizona Diamondbacks also ahead of St. Louis in the race.
With the Cardinals facing extremely long postseason odds and potentially heading toward a fifth consecutive season without playoff baseball, there is little reason to jeopardize Wetherholt’s long-term health simply to get him into a handful of games.
The organization has much more to gain by ensuring its young second baseman enters the offseason fully healthy.
That becomes even more important considering the contract Wetherholt recently signed with the Cardinals. St. Louis agreed to an eight-year, $112.5 million extension with the infielder, a deal that keeps him under team control through the 2034 season.
In other words, Wetherholt is not merely another young player on the roster. He is part of the franchise’s long-term plan.
A Remarkable Rookie Defensive Campaign
Before the wrist injury interrupted his season, Wetherholt had established himself as one of the best defensive second basemen in baseball.
He entered 2026 as a consensus Top 100 prospect, but his performance quickly demonstrated that his potential could translate to the major-league level.
Wetherholt has accumulated more than 1,000 defensive innings at second base while recording 13 Defensive Runs Saved and an extraordinary 21 Outs Above Average.
The OAA number is particularly impressive.
His 21 Outs Above Average leads every qualified second baseman by a significant margin. Brandon Lowe ranks second at the position with 14 OAA, meaning Wetherholt has created a substantial defensive gap between himself and many of his peers.
His 13 Defensive Runs Saved also places him among the best defensive second basemen in the league.
Across all positions, Wetherholt’s 21 OAA ranks third overall, trailing only Pete Crow-Armstrong and Bobby Witt Jr.
That type of defensive production is extraordinary for a rookie and has quickly made Wetherholt one of the most valuable young defensive players on the Cardinals’ roster.
His Offense Has Been Solid, Too
Wetherholt’s value isn’t limited to what he does with the glove.
Through 586 plate appearances, he has produced a .242/.343/.370 batting line with 17 home runs. While those numbers may not immediately jump off the page, his overall offensive profile suggests there is considerably more potential waiting to emerge.
His 16.2% strikeout rate is particularly encouraging. Wetherholt has shown an ability to put the ball in play consistently without giving away too many at-bats through strikeouts.
He has also displayed solid quality of contact. His average exit velocity of 89.9 mph and hard-hit rate of 44.8% both rank above average, indicating that his relatively modest slugging percentage may not fully reflect his underlying offensive ability.
Wetherholt has also contributed 14 stolen bases, adding another dimension to his game.
The combination of contact ability, plate discipline, speed and above-average hard contact gives the Cardinals reason to believe his offensive production could improve as he gains experience.
His bat speed and barrel rate have been slightly below average, but there is no indication that his current power output represents his ceiling. If his batted-ball results improve and he begins converting more of his quality contact into extra-base hits, his offensive numbers could take another step forward.
Wetherholt Is Becoming a Foundation Piece
Perhaps the most important aspect of Wetherholt’s rookie season is what it means for the Cardinals’ future.
St. Louis is in the middle of an important transition period, and the organization needs young players to establish themselves as legitimate building blocks.
Wetherholt has done exactly that.
Alongside Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker, he gives the Cardinals a young offensive core they can build around heading into 2027. Masyn Winn also remains a major part of the team’s future because of his defensive ability at shortstop.
The Cardinals will still have significant work to do during the offseason.
Third base remains an area that could require attention, while pitching depth is another obvious priority if St. Louis wants to move back into postseason contention. The front office will need to determine which veterans remain part of the plan and which positions require outside additions.
But having Wetherholt already established at second base removes one major question from that offseason checklist.
A Late-Season Return Would Mean More Than Just a Few Games
If Wetherholt is healthy enough to return during the final homestand, the Cardinals may have little to gain in terms of the standings. But the value of seeing him back on the field would extend beyond the 2026 playoff race.
It would give Wetherholt a chance to finish his first major-league season on a positive note, allow the organization to evaluate him after his recovery and give fans another opportunity to see one of the franchise’s most important young players.
Still, St. Louis must resist the temptation to rush him simply because the season is nearing its conclusion.
The Cardinals’ competitive window is not limited to September 2026. Their goal should be building a roster capable of competing in 2027 and beyond.
That makes Wetherholt’s health more important than a few additional games this season.
The Bigger Picture for St. Louis
Even with Wetherholt sidelined, his rookie campaign has already given the Cardinals something they desperately needed: confidence in a young player who can potentially become a cornerstone of the franchise.
His defensive performance has been elite, his offensive foundation is encouraging and his recent long-term extension demonstrates how highly the organization values him.
Whether he returns before September 20 or the Cardinals decide to shut him down for the remainder of the season, the larger objective remains the same.
Wetherholt needs to enter the offseason healthy and prepared to build on what he accomplished in 2026.
For a Cardinals team looking toward a potential resurgence next season, having Wetherholt, Burleson, Walker and Winn established as important pieces provides a foundation to work from.
A September return would certainly be welcomed by fans.
But for the Cardinals, the most important victory would be making sure JJ Wetherholt is completely healthy when the 2027 season begins.
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