The Cardinals fall 7-3 to the Diamondbacks on July 19, 2025, as the offense sputters. But is top prospect JJ Wetherholt the answer to their recent woes?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of stark contrasts for the Cardinals organization. In the desert, the big-league club played out a frustratingly familiar script, falling 7-3 to the Diamondbacks in a game that felt out of reach until a too-little, too-late ninth-inning rally. But hundreds of miles away in Memphis, the future was putting on a fireworks show, as top prospect JJ Wetherholt continued a hot streak so undeniable it's beginning to feel less like a question of *if* he'll arrive in St. Louis, and more a question of *who* will be moved to make room.
JJ Wetherholt is now 8-for-16 with five extra-base hits since his promotion to Triple-A.
The loss to the D-backs had all the hallmarks of the team's recent struggles. Starter Andre Pallante was tagged for five earned runs in just four innings, putting the Cards in a deep hole. Arizona's Brandon Pfaadt, meanwhile, cruised through the St. Louis lineup, scattering four hits over seven shutout frames. While Nolan Arenado and Lars Nootbaar each had two hits, the offense as a whole couldn't find the clutch hit, leaving a staggering 10 runners on base. The three-run ninth inning felt more like a statistical correction than a genuine threat, serving only to make the 7-3 final score look slightly more respectable. It was another night of 'what ifs' for a team sliding further back in the NL Central.
While the Cardinals sputtered, their top prospect was igniting the box score for the Memphis Redbirds. JJ Wetherholt delivered his second four-hit game as a pro, going 4-for-5 with multiple extra-base hits in a 7-0 rout of the Toledo Mud Hens. His performance, which included a double and a run scored in a five-run first inning, has become the norm since his promotion. The buzz is palpable, with MLB Pipeline and fans alike clamoring for his call-up. The front office can't ignore this kind of production for long; Wetherholt is making it clear he belongs on the major league roster, creating a very good, and very urgent, problem for management.
Wetherholt's ascent isn't happening in a vacuum. With the trade deadline looming, the pressure to clear a roster spot intensifies a situation already simmering with the team's catching depth. Last year's Texas League MVP, Jimmy Crooks, continues to swing a solid bat in Memphis, but with Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages in St. Louis, his path is blocked. This organizational logjam, now compounded by Wetherholt's emergence, makes a trade feel inevitable. Will the Cardinals package a catcher like Crooks to address another need and open a spot? Or will a struggling veteran be the one moved? These are the tough questions John Mozeliak must answer, and soon.
All eyes now turn to Saturday's game, where ace Sonny Gray takes the mound in a critical start to even the series. A strong performance from Gray could temporarily calm the waters, but it won't quiet the noise coming from Memphis. The Cardinals are at a crossroads: they need a spark to salvage their season, and the brightest one in the entire organization is currently playing in Triple-A. The next few weeks will reveal whether that spark comes from the current roster finally clicking, or from a bold move to inject new life—and a new star—into the lineup.
