WVU's JJ Wetherholt selected by St. Louis in first round of 2024 MLB Draft

ARLINGTON, Texas (WCHS) — A West Virginia University middle infielder is gearing up for his major league debut after being selected in the first round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft.

JJ Wetherholt was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals with the No. 7 pick overall and is the highest draft pick in WVU baseball history, surpassing the mark set by former Mountaineer pitchers Chris Enochs (1997) and Alek Manoah (2019) who each went eleventh overall. Wetherholt is the fourth Mountaineer to be taken in the first round.

As a Mountaineer in 2023, Wetherholt claimed a Big 12 Player of the Year award along with the Division I battle title and was named a first-team All-American.

The slugger batted .370 with a .468 OBP during his three-year collegiate career. Wetherholt also drove in 129 runs and stole 57 bases.

The Cardinals currently sit in second place behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central with 50 wins to 46 loses.