JJ Wetherholt entered the season as an elite baseball prospect, carrying the rank of the fourth-best prospect in the country.On Monday, the Mars Area High School graduate returned to Pittsburgh for the first time as a Major League Baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals. The Pirates are playing the Cardinals in a four-game series at PNC Park.Wetherholt tells Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 it’s a wonderful feeling, after attending many Pirates games as a child with his parents.”It’s sweet, honestly. I get a lot of texts from people who try to keep up to me, regardless of where we’re playing at, get random texts from buddies. There’s going to be more here today, but just try to treat it like another game. Just excited for the opportunity, so my family will be able to watch,” Wetherholt said. Wetherholt’s parents tell Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that his first time in Pittsburgh as a major league player is an emotional moment.”We’re really excited that he’s playing in Pittsburgh so all of our family and friends can come,” said his mother, Holly. “The West Virginia baseball team is coming, and all the coaches, so it’s just going to be amazing. It’s going to be a big celebration.”Wetherholt played for West Virginia University from 2022 to 2024 and was the No. 7 overall pick by the Cardinals in the 2024 MLB draft.

PITTSBURGH —

JJ Wetherholt entered the season as an elite baseball prospect, carrying the rank of the fourth-best prospect in the country.

On Monday, the Mars Area High School graduate returned to Pittsburgh for the first time as a Major League Baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals. The Pirates are playing the Cardinals in a four-game series at PNC Park.

Wetherholt tells Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 it’s a wonderful feeling, after attending many Pirates games as a child with his parents.

“It’s sweet, honestly. I get a lot of texts from people who try to keep up to me, regardless of where we’re playing at, get random texts from buddies. There’s going to be more here today, but just try to treat it like another game. Just excited for the opportunity, so my family will be able to watch,” Wetherholt said.

Wetherholt’s parents tell Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that his first time in Pittsburgh as a major league player is an emotional moment.

“We’re really excited that he’s playing in Pittsburgh so all of our family and friends can come,” said his mother, Holly. “The West Virginia baseball team is coming, and all the coaches, so it’s just going to be amazing. It’s going to be a big celebration.”

Wetherholt played for West Virginia University from 2022 to 2024 and was the No. 7 overall pick by the Cardinals in the 2024 MLB draft.