JJ Wetherholt is building a real NL Rookie of the Year case

It is still early in the 2026 MLB season, but JJ Wetherholt is beginning to look more and more like a legitimate National League Rookie of the Year contender. The St. Louis Cardinals rookie added another big moment Tuesday night, blasting a two-run homer in a 6-4 win over the Athletics. The sixth-inning shot gave St. Louis critical insurance runs and continued what has become a very productive stretch for one of baseball’s top young infielders.

Wetherholt now has eight home runs, 22 RBI, 32 runs scored and a .783 OPS through his first 41 major league games. Those numbers may not immediately jump off the page compared to some established stars around baseball, but for a rookie adjusting to everyday MLB pitching, they are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Especially when paired with how quickly Wetherholt has settled into an important role for a winning Cardinals team.

JJ Wetherholt’s recent surge is changing the conversation

The biggest reason Wetherholt’s Rookie of the Year chances are gaining traction is simple: the power is starting to show up consistently.

Over his last 15 games, Wetherholt has hit four home runs with 10 RBI and a .492 slugging percentage. His swing has looked noticeably more confident lately, particularly against fastballs he may have been missing earlier in the season. Tuesday’s homer against the Athletics felt like another example of a rookie beginning to slow the game down mentally.

JJ Wetherholt adds on for the @Cardinals! pic.twitter.com/Gp0GeGrwYP

That matters because Rookie of the Year races often shift dramatically during the summer months. Early-season favorites fade all the time once pitchers adjust and scouting reports expand. The rookies who survive those adjustments usually become the real contenders by August and September.

Wetherholt appears to be positioning himself for that kind of staying power.

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Cardinals rookie is doing more than just hitting homers

What also helps Wetherholt’s case is the overall energy he brings to the lineup. He already ranks among National League leaders in runs scored while also contributing five stolen bases and consistently finding ways to get on base despite a batting average still sitting at .242. His .356 on-base percentage is a strong sign that his offensive value extends beyond pure power production.

There is also context working in his favor.

The Cardinals continue to win games, especially on the road, and voters often notice rookies contributing meaningful innings for competitive teams. St. Louis improved to an MLB-best 14-7 road record with Tuesday’s victory, and Wetherholt has increasingly become part of the reason why their offense remains dangerous throughout the lineup.

On the season, St. Louis is 24-17, which is tied with Milwaukee for second in the National League Central. Both the Cardinals and Brewers are just 2.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the divisional standings. But, the 24-17 record would be tied for the lead in the National League West, and second in the East.

Of course, the season is still very young. One hot stretch in May does not guarantee a Rookie of the Year trophy in September. But if Wetherholt keeps stacking performances like Tuesday night, his name is going to stay firmly in the middle of that conversation.

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