photo: JJ Wetherholt (Memphis Redbirds)
The Cardinal Nation’s choice as the top hitter in the St. Louis Cardinals organization during July is Memphis shortstop JJ Wetherholt, who led the system in runs scored, home runs, extra base hits, slugging percentage and OPS in his first partial month at Triple-A.
This article details the selection of The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Month. Considered were offensive results during July across the entire St. Louis Cardinals system. The winner as well as a group of six runners up are highlighted.
Starting with the usual 60 plate appearances requirement, a total of 45 hitters in the system qualified. Seven separated themselves with a July OPS above .900.
The bookends of the system, Triple-A Memphis and rookie-level Dominican Summer League, led the finalist list with two each, as did Low-A Palm Beach. Double-A Springfield had one. High-A Peoria and the rookie level Florida Complex League had no finalists for the second consecutive month.
Reminder
Please remember, this is NOT the “Player of the Month Among Top Prospects”. Every player in the system has an equal chance, with only their performance during the month used to differentiate the best of the best. Age and level, which are key prospect considerations, are not factors here, either.
Names in the two tables below are listed in the same descending OPS order.
Rate Stats
| Hitter | Age | Tm | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | BB rate | K rate |
| JJ Wetherholt | 22 | Mem/Spr | 0.306 | 0.395 | 0.708 | 1.104 | 11.6% | 15.1% |
| Sebastian Dos Santos | 17 | DSL | 0.304 | 0.450 | 0.652 | 1.102 | 18.3% | 26.7% |
| Dakota Harris | 23 | Spr | 0.361 | 0.435 | 0.590 | 1.025 | 7.2% | 14.5% |
| Miguel Hernandez | 17 | DSL | 0.344 | 0.455 | 0.557 | 1.012 | 15.6% | 15.6% |
| Rainiel Rodriguez | 18 | PB | 0.259 | 0.397 | 0.552 | 0.949 | 17.8% | 16.4% |
| Deniel Ortiz | 20 | PB/Peo | 0.303 | 0.415 | 0.515 | 0.930 | 13.4% | 22.0% |
| Matt Koperniak | 27 | Mem | 0.299 | 0.337 | 0.584 | 0.922 | 6.0% | 16.9% |
Only two finalists repeated from June, with both having joined new teams since, Memphis shortstop JJ Wetherholt and new Peoria corner infielder Deniel Ortiz.
Two players led the way with a July OPS just over 1.100 and two others finished above 1.000. Neck and neck at the top are the no. 1 prospect in the organization, Wetherholt, at 1.104, with Dominican Summer League middle infielder Sebastian Dos Santos an eyelash away at 1.102.
In many months, a four-digit OPS could mean a win, and the others in this category did perform well in June. They are Springfield infielder Dakota Harris at 1.025 and Dos Santos’ DSL teammate, shortstop Miguel Hernandez, at 1.012.
These same four were the organization’s .300 hitters in June, joined by Ortiz. Leading was Harris at .361 followed by Hernandez at .354.
Four hitters posted an on-base percentage over .400. On top this time was Hernandez at .455, followed by Dos Santos at .450.
In slugging, Wetherholt stands tall on top at .708. The only other finalist over .590 is Dos Santos at .652.
In walk rate, Dos Santos (18.3%) and Palm Beach catcher Rainiel Rodriguez (17.8%) led the way. At the other end are Memphis outfielder Matt Koperniak at just 6.0% and Harris at 7.2%.
The lowest strikeout rates among finalists were compiled by Harris at 14.5% with Wetherholt next at 15.1%. The only finalists above 20% were Dos Santos at 26.7% and Ortiz at 22%.
Counting stats
| Hitter | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS |
| JJ Wetherholt | 19 | 86 | 72 | 18 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| Sebastian Dos Santos | 14 | 60 | 46 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 7 | 1 |
| Dakota Harris | 17 | 69 | 61 | 12 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 1 |
| Miguel Hernandez | 17 | 77 | 61 | 15 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 1 |
| Rainiel Rodriguez | 17 | 73 | 58 | 11 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| Deniel Ortiz | 20 | 82 | 66 | 13 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 11 | 18 | 11 | 1 |
| Matt Koperniak | 20 | 83 | 77 | 13 | 23 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 20 | 5 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
Wetherholt’s seven home runs, compiled between Springfield (two) and Memphis (five) led the entire system. His new Redbirds teammate Koperniak’s five tied for second.
The six doubles hit by Wetherholt in June was tops among finalists and third in the system in total, just one behind the co-leaders (Ryan Campos and Cesar Prieto).
Put it together and Wetherholt’s 14 extra-base hits (including one triple) were the most in the system during June.
Koperniak and Dos Santos led the finalists and the entire system with 20 RBI. Wetherholt was third (finalists) and fourth (overall) with 16 runs driven in.
Ortiz topped the finalists with 11 stolen bases (in 12 attempts). The only other organizational player with more in June was Springfield outfielder Joshua Baez with 14.
Only one of the seven finalists drew more walks than he struck out, Rodriguez at 13 to 12, though Hernandez evened them up at 12.
In runs scored, Wetherholt compiled the full system lead in July with 18.
Taking it all into account, Wetherholt’s strong July across the board, his first partial month at the highest level of the minor leagues, gives him the honor of The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Month.
The 22-year-old led the system in runs scored, home runs, extra base hits, slugging percentage and OPS. Among finalists, Wetherholt was second in doubles and lowest strikeout rate.
About the winner
Everyone probably knows the reason Wetherholt fell to the Cardinals with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 Draft despite perhaps having been the best hitter in the class. His junior season at West Virginia was curtailed due to injury.
After a solid debut late last season at Palm Beach, Wetherholt has already mastered High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield in 2025. His Texas League OPS+ was a league-best 152 upon his July 7 promotion. Wetherholt also played in the MLB Futures Game during last month, though those results are not included here.
If he continues to perform at this level in August, the questions about when Wetherholt, who added second base to his defensive portfolio this season, will be called up to St. Louis will only increase.
Congratulations to The Cardinal Nation’s top-ranked prospect, JJ Wetherholt, The Cardinal Nation’s July Player of the Month.
How last month’s winners fared
Our June choice as Player of the Month was Memphis outfielder Nathan Church. The organization selected then-Palm Beach’s Ortiz, whose strong July results are listed above as a finalist repeater.
Church didn’t have a bad July, either, as he slashed .304/.364/.443/.807 with the Redbirds. His 24 hits led the system. The 24-year-old outfielder also kept his walks (eight) and strikeouts (nine) close in his third consecutive solid month.
What is next?
Look for The Cardinal Nation’s July Pitcher of the Month article, the companion to this one, coming very soon.
Also, the Cardinals organization should name their own selections of July Player and Pitcher of the Month in the upcoming days.
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