JJ Wetherholt is one step closer to his big-league debut!

The Cardinals have promoted their top prospect to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, an announcement confirmed on Monday.

The 22-year-old Wetherholt, who was recently ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 19 prospect in the game, was the Cardinals’ first-round Draft pick (seventh overall) last season. Wetherholt played three college seasons at West Virginia, winning a Division I batting title in his sophomore season, when he hit .449.

Wetherholt slashed .300/.425/.466 with 22 XBH, 34 RBI & 14 SB in 62 games with Springfield this year, leading the Texas League in OBP and OPS.

According to the Cardinals organization, he is the first Cardinals minor leaguer to reach Triple-A or higher within a calendar year of being drafted since former Cardinal and current Royals pitcher Michael Wacha in 2013.

While it’s possible the 2024 first-round pick could push to join the big club in the second half of this season, a 2026 MLB debut is more likely.