The St. Louis Cardinals are signing rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt to an eight-year, $112.5-million extension, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo.
The deal for Wetherholt, who was previously under team control through 2031, will buy out multiple years of free agency. He's the latest rookie to sign a nine-figure deal in their first season. Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin and Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle did so in April.
The 23-year-old is batting .267 with 13 home runs and 36 RBIs in 87 games this season. He also has a .362 OBP and has been a consistent threat on the basepaths, recording nine stolen bases.
St. Louis selected Wetherholt with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 draft out of West Virginia and then signed him to a $6.8-million contract. He rose through the Cardinals' minor-league system and made the team's Opening Day roster in March.
St. Louis holds a 48-44 record entering Friday and sits third in the NL Central ahead of next week's All-Star break.
