JJ Wetherholt

School: West Virginia
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.9
BA Grade: 55/High
Tools: Hit: 65. Power: 55. Run: 60. Field: 50. Arm: 50.

Wetherholt made his case as one of the best pure hitters in the 2024 class as a West Virginia sophomore in 2023. That season, he led the nation in hitting and slashed .449/.517/.782 with 16 home runs and 35 stolen bases. Despite being hampered by a hamstring injury that summer, Wetherholt was viewed as the top pure hitter on USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Another hamstring injury early in 2024 cost him nearly two months of the season. A 5-foot-10, 190-pound shortstop, he has a clean and fluid lefthanded swing with a slight uphill bat path and plenty of hand speed through the zone. He’s able to manipulate his barrel to consistently get on plane with all pitch types and has the strength to homer to all fields with surprising pop for his size. In addition to his plus contact skills and above-average raw power, Wetherholt has a keen eye and rarely expands the zone, making him one of the most well-rounded hitters in the class. Wetherholt has played third base, second base and shortstop in college. He has the hands and actions for all three, but his arm could be best suited to second base, where he could be an above-average defender. When healthy, Wetherholt is a plus runner who could be a consistent basestealing threat, but multiple hamstring injuries could incentivize him to be less aggressive. Wetherholt should become the highest-drafted player in WVU history, bettering Alek Manoah in 2019 and Chris Enochs in 1997, both of whom were 11th overall picks.