Being called up was a ‘dream come true’

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — “With the seventh pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the St. Louis Cardinals select JJ Wetherholt, a shortstop from West Virginia University.”

With these 22 words from the MLB commissioner, JJ Wetherholt’s professional baseball career began.

It’s been a week since the All-American middle infielder became the highest drafted player in WVU baseball history. Now, he’s embarking on a journey that he hopes will see him become an MLB player. But before he gets back to work, he’s taken a few days to reflect on what that life-changing day in Texas last Sunday meant to him and his family.

“This is what I’ve been working for my whole life. It’s a dream come true,” Wetherholt told Gold and Blue Nation.

The Man from Mars has yet to sign his first professional contract or make his first minor league appearances, so he’s keeping a perspective on what’s been accomplished and what’s yet to come.

“I like to say it’s the first step of a two-part dream,” Wetherholt added. “My first dream was to hear my name called and get drafted. The second dream was to play in the big leagues.

Part of the workload for that second dream is getting familiar with the Cardinals organization. Shortly after he was drafted, he FaceTimed with former Mountaineer Victor Scott II, who has been with the St. Louis franchise since 2022.

Wetherholt expects to be sent to the Cardinals’ spring training facility in Florida soon. He’ll likely spend at least a few weeks there before being promoted to one of St. Louis’ minor league affiliates, assuming the front office thinks he’s ready.

His baseball journey is far from over. Wetherholt realizes he has become a household name for the small town of Mars, Pennsylvania, and a West Virginia program that he has helped to take to new heights. It is not lost on Wetherholt what his success means to those who have followed him along the way.

“It means a lot to me, just to be able to represent some of the communities that have had such an impact on my career. Like you said, Mars, obviously, but especially West Virginia. Just being able to perform in front of the entire state and just show that greatness can come out of West Virginia, and you can go there and have a professional career. So hopefully the kids can see that and use it as motivation.”