The St. Louis Cardinals reached agreement Friday on an eight-year contract extension with stellar rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt.
According to published reports, Wetherholt will receive $112.5 million plus performance bonuses that could raise the worth to $132 million.
The deal begins next season and runs through the 2034 campaign.
Wetherholt, 23, was the Cardinals’ first-round selection (seventh overall) in the 2024 draft.
“Since joining the Cardinals two years ago, JJ has impressed in every aspect,” Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said in a news release. “He is a dynamic player who produces in every facet of the game, and a true professional who is consistent, prepared and hard-working. Equally as important, he’s a great teammate who wants to win, and he represents the organization with class both at the field and away from it.
“We are proud of the person JJ is and the player he continues to become, and are pleased to enter into this commitment with him. JJ is a very important part of what we are building, and we look forward to winning together for many years.”
Wetherholt has hit 13 homers this season, the most by a rookie second baseman in franchise history. He also has 36 RBIs and a .267 average in 87 games entering Friday’s play. He has been a high performer on the defensive side and leads all second basemen in the majors with 12 runs prevented.
The left-handed-hitting Wetherholt starred at West Virginia during his college career. Last season, he was MVP of the Double-A Texas League despite playing in just 62 games for Springfield.
Wetherholt is the first St. Louis player under contract for the 2027 season.
