J.J.
Wetherholt

Cape Cod: Coming off an electrifying All-America sophomore campaign at WVU (.449/.517/.782, 16 HR, 23 2B, 35 SB), Wetherholt was one of the rare players who started his summer on the Cape, left for Team USA, then returned to the Cape. He still logged just 28 at-bats over eight games for the Anglers, but he impressed in his short stint, hitting .321 with one homer, four doubles and eight RBIs. Wetherholt stands out for his elite feel to hit from the left side, his top-of-the-charts speed and ability to utilize it on the basepaths, and the surprising pop in his 5-foot-10, 190-pound frame. He also defends well at second base, where he profiles well, but his arm is a tick light for shortstop. He also impressed the Chatham coaching staff with his winning making and love for the game.

USA CNT: Wetherholt was nursing a hamstring injury upon arrival at CNT training camp, and as a result, he didn’t play in the field or run the bases during the Stars & Stripes series. He played DH and ran the bases, albeit carefully, in the series against Chinese Taipei and Japan, however, and was among the team’s most consistent offensive performers, finishing third in average (.263) and on-base percentage (.481). Wetherholt has a strong frame and big-time bat speed—despite being far from the most physically imposing player in the lineup—which produces easy power to all fields. He also boasts elite bat-to-ball skills, which helped him draw six walks compared to just one strikeout in his eight games against international competition, even as he occasionally chased balls out the zone. The tender hamstring kept Wetherholt from playing defense with the CNT, but he could get a shot to show what he can do at shortstop in 2024 for WVU. 

Weatherholdt is a 5-foot-8, 170-pound SS/RHP from Mars Area HS. The 5-foot-8, 170-pound shortstop is your de-facto top of the order run creator and can create havoc on the basepaths. The left-handed hitter was impressive with a .500 batting average and 22 RBI’s as a sophomore in the WPIAL which should tell you all you need to know about his offensive prowess. The shortstop has advanced range to either side with ability to steal hits in the middle of the field and make plays on the run with ease. Wetherholt is the complete package in a frame that could get slightly more physical in the coming months. The West Virginia commit has played against meaningful competition his whole life: for Beaver Valley (out of Pittsburgh) in the summers and in the WPIAL during the spring. This should leave no doubt that he is seasoned enough for a chance to earn playing time upon stepping on campus. A top of the order spark-plug with a quality track record in-game, Wetherholt could gain even more traction with some more gap to gap pop.