St. Louis Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt is embracing the grind and the growth that come with professional baseball.
With eyes set on the future, he opened up about his approach to success, handling expectations, and being part of the next wave of Cardinals talent.
When asked about his now-famous hashtag “#Poison” after being named a potential Rookie of the Year by MLB.com, JJ smiled.
“It’s a running joke from college,” he explained.
“Our head coach, Steve Sabans, coined it to describe all the national attention we were getting—articles about me, my teammates, or the team in general. It’s kind of just poison. People hype you up, but the same people who lift you up will tear you down if things go south. You have to tune all that out and just focus on the work.”
Experience, JJ emphasized, has shaped him into a more complete player.
“Even simple things like learning how to travel, how to move efficiently, and how to handle a full season in AAA make a huge difference. It’s a grind, but going through it makes you calmer and more prepared for the next season.”
Over the offseason, he has focused on adding strength and speed while honing his core skills, aiming to improve without losing what already makes him effective.
Being part of the Cardinals’ young talent wave excites JJ.
“There are a lot of hungry guys trying to make a name for themselves and bring wins back to St. Louis,” he said.
“You can feel that investment as a young player. The organization is treating us as assets, giving us support and resources we didn’t have before—assistant trainers, extra coaches. It shows they want us to develop and succeed.”
Spring training will feel different this year for JJ.
“Last year, it was about learning the ropes. This year, it’s about making the team. Everything looks different because the goal has changed,” he said.
JJ has balanced his infield work across second and third base, visualizing plays and refining footwork to stay ready for any position the team needs him to cover.
JJ also credited his upbringing in Pittsburgh, surrounded by sons of major leaguers, for helping him adapt to the pro game.
“Seeing guys like Neil Walker and Adam LaRoche’s son play and learning from them made it more real. It gave me something to aspire to and a reference for how to handle pro life.”
Offensively, JJ has maintained his identity as a hitter.
“I focus on making good swing decisions, controlling the zone, and driving the ball to all fields. Last year, I experimented with adding power, but it caused me to lose my backside specialty. This winter, I’m getting back to what I do best—hitting the ball the other way and staying consistent.”
He also credits coaches like Casey at Springfield for their guidance, helping him enhance his skills without changing who he is at the plate.
JJ looks up to players like Altuve, Pedroia, and Robinson Cano for their combination of skill, work ethic, and style, and he models aspects of his game after them.
“You have to focus on what makes you good, not just what you need to improve,” he said.
“That’s been an important lesson in maintaining my identity as a player.”
As the Cardinals look toward a new season with roster changes and opportunities for young players, JJ remains grounded and focused.
“You stay present day by day, but you also hope to experience something like Opening Day in St. Louis. That’s what you work for every day.”
JJ’s message is clear: talent gets you noticed, but performance and persistence define a player.
“You gotta perform,” he said. “Those guys who hyped you up will be the same ones who tear you down. So you just focus on what you can control—your work, your preparation, and your execution.”
