Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt predicted to win MLB award, but not Rookie of the Year

The St. Louis Cardinals have had a very fun 2026 MLB season, as they entered the year as a rebuilding team, but have been a fringe postseason club all season long. While it's too early to truly believe in this team as a World Series-caliber group, this is a good start.

Jordan Walker's breakout is a huge reason for the team's success this season, but rookie JJ Wetherholt's breakout in the big leagues is another big reason for the team's success. He's been awesome and has a chance to win the NL Rookie of the Year. Or at least, he did.

While Wetherholt's injury likely means the NL ROY is out of reach, MLB.com's Jason Foster, Jared Greenspan, and Brian Murphy predicted that the Cardinals rookie would still win an award. Instead of the Rookie of the Year, Wetherholt could win a Gold Glove.

JJ Wetherholt predicted to win NL Gold Glove

"Wetherholt has had quite a productive rookie season and should be among the favorites to win NL Rookie of the Year," the MLB.com trio write. "A big part of his value is his defense, with Wetherholt's 21 Outs Above Average and plus-21 fielding run value leading all MLB second basemen. His 13 Defensive Runs Saved ranks fourth in the NL."

Wetherholt has been one of the best defenders in all of Major League Baseball this season. He's easily the favorite to win the Gold Glove at second base in the National League.

Among all second basemen, only Brice Turang of the Milwaukee Brewers is even remotely close to Wetherholt defensively. But, going by Fielding Run Value from Baseball Savant, Wetherholt is at a plus-21 FRV with Turang at plus-12.

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That 21 FRV is not just elite; it's the second-best mark in all of Major League Baseball. Only Pete Crow-Armstrong, the likely NL MVP for the Chicago Cubs, has a higher FRV at a plus-27.

No other player in baseball is at a 20 or greater. Third-place in all of MLB is Bobby Witt Jr., who has a plus-17 FRV this season.

What these statistics should make clear is that Wetherholt has been one of the best defenders in baseball, and this Gold Glove prediction should come true.

It would be a major upset if Wetherholt didn't end the 2026 rookie season with hardware, as the NL 2B Gold Glove award should easily be his, even if he doesn't play again this season.

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